OLD Elizabethans got their Birmingham League campaign off to a flying start with an impressive five-wicket Division Two win over Shropshire outfit Newport at the Memorial Ground.

Skipper Sean Cairney won the toss and invited the visitors to bat.

Stuart Lockwood (4-44) struck first when he removed both openers with just 25 on the board.

Halliday (49) was then joined by Rasika (22) and they set about rebuilding the innings, adding 49 before Rasika became the third of Lockwood's victims.

Just six more runs had been added when Lockwood had Prince caught by debutant Australian Ben Donaldson.

The introduction of Ollie Griffiths (5-29) proved more than the Newport batsmen could resist as he ripped through the middle and lower order with a stunning display of bowling.

In just 12.2 overs, Griffiths claimed five wickets for only 29 runs, delivering just 10 balls for the batsmen to score off and including a triple wicket maiden.

The dependable Stuart Phillips (1-13) accounted for Mountford as the Newport side capitulated for 112 in 40 overs.

In reply, the OEs openers found runs hard to come by when Boyle's brief stay ended in the third over.

Hemming then struggled to gain his fluency and although Simon Macey (19) tried to push the pace, the visitors pegged the scoring rate to around two an over.

When Hemming was caught at slip by Walker, Donaldson (10) joined Macey and the pair managed to add 20 runs before Prince trapped Donaldson leg-before without another run being added.

Macey was dismissed, leaving youngsters Jamie Alford (17) and James Bull (21 not out) at the crease. Playing with very different styles, the new pairing added 24 before Alford was caught in the deep.

With Bull playing a watchful anchor role, Cairney (18no) applied all his experience to help see the home side past their target without any further alarms with more than 27 overs to spare.

Kidderminster Victoria began their Premier Division campaign with a 30-run defeat at Wolverhampton.

Having won the toss, skipper Jonathan Wright decided to field, a decision that paid off when new overseas player Mario Saliwa, who only arrived at Heathrow on Friday, took a wicket in his second over.

Ted Baylis (2-27) took two wickets and Wright one, to leave the visitors on 82-4 after 35 overs. Wolver-hampton had reached 92 in the 40th over, aided by Brook's half-century, and scored 50 more in the remaining 15.

Kidderminster got off to a poor start in reply, losing their first four wickets for only 29 runs.

Phil Shaw (four) Josh Knappett (14) Neil Pinner (six) and Craig Wood (one) were unable to handle either Russell, Jamshed or Former Indian test leg spinner Bahutule.

Mansell (16) and Wright raised Kidderminster's hopes with a stand of 51. Andy Siwicki and Baylis did not help the cause, and when Wright was out for a patient 45 it was all over.

Duncan Catterall hit an unbeaten 123 as Ombersley began life in Division Two with a comprehensive 132-run victory over Water Orton.

Catterall was dropped early in his innings but proceeded to dominatewith his first century for two seasons with 16 fours and one six.

Brett D'Oliveria (20) and Arti Fiaz (25) took the score to 180-4 before Ombersley closed on 234-9.

After Catterall had removed James Lawley, the slower bowlers dominated. Matt Rawnsley was the pick with 4-19 off 17 overs, eight of which were maidens, as Water Orton were dismissed for 102.