FINCHAMPSTEAD CC skipper Dan Marles admitted his side were not at their best when losing their opening Home Counties Premier League fixture on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

The champions slumped to a 50-run defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Oxford after being bowled out for 187.

“We got a few things wrong,” said Marles. “We didn’t bat too well. Chasing nearly 240 is not usually too bad on our wicket, but we didn’t quite go about it in the right way.

“A few of us got out without making a decent score and we failed to bat out the overs - only 43. Perhaps that was down to a bit of inexperience.”

Marles was generally pleased with his bowlers, including Jandre Coetzee, who took a wicket with his very first delivery of the game.

The South African seamer finished with 3-43 off 10 overs and was unlucky not to have got another wicket.

He and the rest of the team believed Oxford newcomer Muhammad Ayub had nicked his delivery to wicket-keeper Sukhi Kang early in his innings.

However, their loud appeals were rejected by the umpire, and the former Pakistan Test player went on to make a century.

“Yes, we thought he was caught behind, but we also had other chances to stop him and we should not have allowed him to make 100,” added Marles.

“He did bat well, but we didn’t always bowl in the right areas to him. That said, much of our bowling was excellent.”

Marles continued: “Obviously, it was disappointing, but we lost our first two games last season.We will try to bounce back as soon as we can.”