OLD Elizabethans lost by nine wickets to a strong Bromsgrove side in the first of two pre-season friendlies at the Memorial Ground.

With regular first-teamers missing, skipper Sean Cairney won the toss and elected to bat first in cold conditions.

The home side got off to a steady start with openers Simon Macey (19) and Jamie Boyle (11) putting on 34 before the former was bowled by Walker.

Boyle fell only five runs later and when the next wicket was lost with the addition of only one run, OEs had to rebuild.

Jamie Alford (15) and Sean Cairney (13) added 22 when the captain was caught behind. Runs proved hard to come by as the hosts lost wickets at crucial times.

Apart from Stuart Tipper's unbeaten 28, no-one was able to post a significant score.

When the innings closed at the 40-over mark, OEs had only posted 117-7 which was unlikely to prove a challenging target.

Bromsgrove set off at a brisk pace as the weather conditions gradually became worse.

Omar Ali fell to a catch by wicketkeeper Mike Payne off the bowling of Stuart Phillips with the score on 24.

It proved to be the only success for the north Worcester side as Dutch international batsman Alex Kervezee (69 not out) and Jones (31no) knocked off the required runs in less than an hour to finish the game within 18 overs.

OEs entertain Halesowen on Saturday prior to starting their Birmingham League Division Two campaign on May 3 against Newport.

The second team travelled to Pershore to play their first XI in a friendly.

Pershore scored 239-7 in 45 overs but the rain came to end OEs' innings on 160-4.

A fine all-round performance from veteran Chris Dale ensured OEs Thirds a seven-wicket win against youthful Pershore at Neel Park.

Having won the toss, Pershore batted on a slow track in cold weather.

The openers got off to a swift start, putting on 34 before Mark Walker took a good catch off Colin Rees.

The introduction of Dale (5-19) slowed the scoring down and a steady stream of wickets followed. Rees (2-23) and Dave Rouse (2-40) both chipped in with useful wickets but the match was also notable for the debut of 15-year-old leg-spinner Ryan Cowan.

Apart from Pershore's captain scoring a quick 74, no batsman coped well with the conditions and the innings finished on 181-9.

That soon looked a small total as Dale piled into the bowling with a series of classic and elegant drives.

Dale (95) and Walker (47) put the game beyond Pershore's reach with an opening stand of 146.

A mini-collapse followed Dale's dismissal with three wickets falling for five runs but the experience of Ivor Biggerstaff (24no) saw OEs home with 13 overs to spare.