WCC's league campaign got off to a losing start on Sunday although there were some positives to be taken from what was a new look team, missing several big name regulars such as Prafull, Chris Corlett, Nasir and the reappointed Club Captain Raj.

Stand in skipper Pip Kirkpatrick won the toss and asked Nomads to bat on a wet pitch at Uster. The opening bowlers kept to their line and length and were treated carefully by Wicky and Kameran, the Nomads openers. The pair accumulated steadily on a slow wicket without being threatened by the WCC'S seam attack. The first wicket fell shortly before drinks when Wicky called Kameran for a third run but didn't bank on such a good throw by Gajan, who impressed in the field, back to Kirkpatrick at the bowler's end who then managed to relay it to Tom to do the rest. At 77 for 1 at 20 overs, Nomads were well placed at half way.

The ten overs after drinks proved to be pivotal in the match. Kirkpatrick made the breakthrough when he bowled danger man Wicky for 50 and his next over claimed two more wickets, both smartly stumped by Tom Mampilly, who had a good afternoon with the gloves on. With Nomads looking to up the rate, the ball was suddenly in the air regularly with Winterthur sadly not able to make the most of it. Six regulation catches went down between the 20th and 30th overs, including three in one of the skipper's over after which he was heard to curse the selection committee for the exclusion of mild mannered bean counter Phil Martin, who may have been safer under a ball in the air off a leg spinner's bowling.....

The experienced duo of Swannie and Sanjeev pegged back Nomads in the final few overs for them to finish with 153 in their 40 overs. Bowling honours went to Waqar (14 runs conceded off 8 overs) and Pip (3 for 44).

Winterthur's response could not have started worse as opener Swannie played around the first ball of the WCC innings and was enthusiastically sent on his way by the umpire's trigger finger. Gajan suffered the same fate shortly after when his pads got in the way of a ball heading well down the leg side and was send back for a duck. Sanjeev played a quick cameo including three glorious drives through the covers for four. When he got bowled trying to tee off against a straight one, WCC were in trouble at 27 for 3. The skipper was joined by Vinnie Patel, who was showing off his new found timing, courtesy of his surgically enhanced new 20/20 vision. The pair consolidated by taking 35 off the next eleven overs with sensible batting to leave the match in the balance just short of drinks at 65 for 4, when Pip chopped one onto his stumps.

After drinks Vinnie and Mahmood played their natural game on the drying wicket and showed that runs could be made. Vinnie was looking well set when he let a pull from Sangam hit his hip and he too was sent on his way for the third LBW of the day. The tail wagged in vain and despite a few lusty blows from Mahmood and Rehman, WCC were all out for 110 in the 30th overs. (Sanjeev 16, Pip 18, Vinnie 21, Extras 28).

WCC's match reports are never short of a cliche or three. The best one for this match would easily be "catches win matches" where, despite a gutsy batting performance, the fielders let their bowlers down and let Nomads get too many in their innings. WCC will improve on this performance and it gave a number of new and returning faces the chance to get some game time and to stake their claim for the upcoming fixtures.

Reporter: Pip