OLD Elizabethans battled out a losing draw when they visited Tamworth in Birmingham League Division Two on Satu-rday.

Skipper Sean Cairney won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first on a good looking pitch but with rain forecast for later in the afternoon.

Tamworth got off to a brisk start with Orton (33) and Worcestershire hopeful Jack Manuel dispatching the opening attack to all parts of the ground.

The pairing had added 83 in just 16 overs before Ollie Griffiths claimed the first of his six victims when he had Orton stumped.

The introduction of Griffiths had stemmed the scoring rate a little but runs were being leaked at the other end.

Griffiths then struck again when he had the dangerous Manuel caught behind and 16 runs later Stuart Phillips (1-63) trapped Ambler leg before.

The next partnership added 50 before Griffiths removed the Tamworth skipper Calver-ley.

With the runs continuing to flow, 300 seemed on the cards at this stage but the OEs attack clawed the initiative back as they reduced Tamwo-rth from 191-3 to 244-9 in the final 15 overs of the innings.

Griffiths was the star of the show, returning the stunning figures of 24-12-41-6.

In reply, OEs made a steady start with the increasingly reliable opening partnership of Simon Macey (37) and Ben Donaldson (55) adding 89 before Macey was bowled by Nield. Donaldson fell just 14 runs later for a well crafted half century and, when David Phillips went cheaply, the innings had stalled a little on 107-3.

However, Chris Pearman (58 not out) and James Bull (24) added a welcome 70 runs in 16 overs before Bull was caught off Manuel.

When Bull returned to the pavilion, wickets fell at regular intervals and at one time the home side looked as if they could push for a victory.

However, Pearman shepherded the tail as the reply closed on 203-8 off the maximum 55 available overs.

OEs entertain Water Orton on Saturday looking to improve their league position in the run up to the end of season fixtures.

The seconds’ weather blighted season continued, as once again a hopeful position in a match was ruined by the rain.

Having won the toss, OEs skipper Steve Burgoyne had little hesitation in asking Tamworth to bat on a surface that had been covered for almost 10 days.

The slow pace of the surface was causing a very lack-lustre approach by the visiting batsmen.

Tamworth lost an early wicket when Ferns, who had been padding away deliveries, finally succumbed to a positive leg before appeal off Ryan Biggerstaff with the score on six.

The score had reached 28 when Scott Butler was introduced with immediate effect. He had Gedge caught behind from his first delivery in the 12th over, bef-ore Page was next out when he was trapped leg before.

Tamworth skipper Gary Taylor then shared a 56-run partnership with youngster Mark Philpott (25).

The scoring rate was slowed even further with the introduction of Andy Stephens and Chris Dale, who both bowled with good control.

Then the experienced Taylor took charge, exploiting some poor ground fielding by the hosts.

The veteran batsman increa-sed the scoring rate as Tamworth all but doubled their score in the final ten overs of the innings.

The expected rain started to fall during the tea interval and never abated.