WORCESTER Nomads are among the early Worcestershire League Division One pace-setters after winning by eight wickets at Colwall.

With three games abandoned, including Bromyard’s clash with Coombs Wood, batsmen endured a testing time after a wet week.

The damp wicket saw both captains desperate to bowl first but Nomads’ Ben Schiffmann won the vital toss and put Colwall into bat.

The visitors took control as Christian Elsden (5-25) bowled a consistent line and length.

He picked up wickets in consecutive balls and a great catch from Sam Roberts had debutant Dan Head (7) leaving Colwall on 15-3 off 12 overs.

James Abel (32) and Rory Jones (20) upped the run-rate but the spin of Steve Bowman (5-14) brought further wickets as the hosts fell for just 86.

A James Nightingale wicket in the third over gave Colwall hope before a torrential hailstorm.

When the players returned, Australian opener Angus Robson was dropped twice but battled to a winning unbeaten 58.

Colwall, who head to Bromyard tomorrow (1pm), could only take one more wicket as Nomads bagged 20 points by finishing on 87-2 in the 24th over.

The Bransford side host fellow title-chasers Pershore tomorrow (1pm).

􀁧 Relegated Malvern suffered a stuttering start to Division Three life with a 31-run home defeat to Cookley.

Despite a wet track, unsettled weather and undercooked players, Malvern bowled and fielded well to restrict the visitors to 146-7 from 50 overs.

Shaun Smith (1-30) and Will Dovey did well without much luck before last season’s leading wicket- taker Andy Croft (1-22) saw off Alex Roden (26).

Simon Cook was caught by wicketkeeper Brandon Wain off Rob Francis and Owais Shah (4-35) immediately took wickets.

Malvern looked to be building a solid platform on a drying, unpredictable pitch.

Richard Cullen (11) and Andy Cullen (23) helped them to 78-1 but the collapse began despite a patient 49 from Anthony Arnold.

Malvern, who head to Chaddesley Corbett tomorrow (1pm), slumped to 115 all out in the 40th over.

􀁧 Former Worcester City footballer Josh Emery is turning his hand to cricket with Eastnor as they bid to make their mark in Birmingham League Division Two.

Emery joins fellow all-rounder Sharafat Hussain, who has signed from Old Elizabethans.

Pakistan all-rounder Atiq Ur Rehman remains the club’s overseas player, while new captain Clive Chadhani is trying to secure an unnamed batsman from Manchester.

Chadhani said: “We are confident that if we get him we will be pushing in the top half of the league.

“There are also guys in the second XI who are excellent fielders but not that proficient with the bat.

“We are looking to bring those sort of players on board as well.”