Winterthur CC have lifted the Swiss Cricket Association trophy in their first final with an emphatic 93 run win over the previously unbeaten Bern.
Played last Sunday at the Bout du Monde Ground in Geneva, the game was played in an atmosphere exemplary of the 'Spirit of Cricket' on a day of uninterrupted sunshine.
A good crowd made up of spectators from Geneva, Cossonay, CERN and the two opposing teams saw Winterthur get off to a slow start with acceleration over the final 10 overs producing 95 runs.
Bern's run rate was actually higher than Winterthur's until the 29th over by which time the 1999 champions were down to their eighth wicket.
The Bern innings was in three distinct phases: 1) bad start - 13 for 2; 2) consolidation by Koshy and Khan with a stand of 84; 3) collapse!
The losers graciously accepted their runners-up trophies and the captain, Abraham Koshy, thanked the new champions for a sportingly-played game.
His opposite number, Phil Martin (in his last season as WCC Captain) returned the thanks, accepted the Swiss Cup from the SCA President and proudly presented the winners' trophies to his team.
Worthy of remark were the fine performances of the Swiss-born WCC players - from the veteran wicket-keeper Ziegler, via Alex M ller to the teenage Thomas Bowler.
The Bern 'Helvetics' were also 'in the van' - Brink and de Ligneris, the former taking a fine catch at long-on to dismiss opener Swanepoel.
Present at the match was World Radio Geneva, who also previewed the Final on their Friday Sports Round-up
Winterthur 235-5 (40 overs) (Cooke 88n.o.; Swanepoel 39) Bern 142 all out (31 overs) (Koshy 48, J.Kahn 39; Cooke 6-15)
Man of the Match: Paul Cooke Umpires: M. Hutton (Geneva CC) & J. Bird (Cossonay CC)
Winterthur had qualified for the final a fortnight earlier with 42 run win over Geneva, in a match played in appalling weather conditions at Uster.
Despite losing almost an hour to rain, Geneva contained Winterthur to 151-8 in their allotted 40 overs.
Having had an early lunch, Geneva came straight back out and started their innings strongly.
However, regardless of awful conditions, WCC managed to dismiss Geneva in 33 overs to confirm their final place against Berne, winner of the other semi-final.
Winterthur 151-8 def. Geneva 109 all-out by 42 runs.
Berne marched into the final with a comprehensive 10 wicket win over Zurich team, Nomads at Bern.
In a match also affected by rain, Nomads were skittled for 70 all-out, before Bern cruised to victory without losing a wicket.
Nomads 70 all-out lost to Berne 71-0 by 10 wickets.
The semi-final results were fitting as they allowed the two
Final League Championship Table 2000
P W L T NR Points Pts/MatchWestern DivisionBerne C.C.6 6 0 0 0191-Geneva C.C.6 4 2 0 0154-CERN C.C.6 2 4 0 087-Cossonay C.C.6 0 6 0 043-
Eastern Division Winterthur C.C. 8 3 2 0 3 139 27.8 Nomads' C.C. 8 3 1 0 4 94 23.5 Classic C.C. 8 4 2 0 2 125 20.8 Royal Lankans' C.C. 8 2 4 0 2 80 13.3 Basel C.C. 8 1 4 0 3 58 11.6