DAN MARLES says opening day defeat to Oxford was a “wake-up call” to his title winning Finchampstead squad.
Reigning champions Finch went into the Home Counties Premier clash as firm favourites against newly-promoted Oxford.
And they started well, taking a wicket with the very first ball courtesy of overseas star Jandre Coetzee.
But struggles with the bat proved Finchampstead’s downfall, failing to chase down 238 and losing by 50 runs.
“We didn’t get a few things right and they kind of shocked us,” Marles admitted to The Wokingham Paper.
“We got a wicket with the first ball of the game from Jandre and we thought here we go again.
“We got another early one so it was 13-2 and then we thought their number four (Mo Ayub) nicked one on to the keeper, but it wasn’t given.
“That kind of changed the game really.
“They started to get in from there, that lad got 100 and they got to about 240, which we thought was definitely chaseable.
“We were around 70-1, looked in good shape but not enough of the batters stepped up.
“A few of us got in and gave it away and there were some silly shots in there really.”
Marles won the toss and elected to field, which appeared to be a perfect decision when Coetzee removed Harvey Eltham for a golden duck, before also quickly dismissing Owyn Tong-Jones.
Oxford stumbled from 13-2 to 76-4, but a strong partnership between captain John Barrett and Ayub fired the score along before Barrett fell for 58.
Max Uttley was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-59, including the removal of Ayub for 100, as Oxford closed on 237-9 off their 50 overs.
But Billy Rogers was the only man to make a half century for hosts with 50 after the top three Andrew House (30), Greg Smith (3) and Marles (24) all spent a decent amount of time at the crease.
With everyone falling around Rogers, late resistance from tail-ender Anthony Parson (20) gave Finch hope, but they were bowled out for 187 in the 43rd over.
And Marles, who has now lost all three season openers as captain, says he is glad this defeat has happened sooner rather than later.
“The ball started spinning towards the end which I didn’t see happening or I would’ve batted first myself,” said the skipper.
“But we were pretty happy chasing 240. I think it’s just a lack of experience still in this league.
“We didn’t have to bat that many times last year, chasing that sort of total. It’s a good challenge for us.
“We know where we need to improve and it’s good that this has happened this early.”
He added: “It’s a funny stat (losing the opener three years in a row). I don’t really know why.
“Maybe it’s just a bit of under preparation from us or a bit naive with a young side.
“I think it’s just a wake-up call and I think it’s quite good that it happened early in the season.
“You know now that this is still a very, very hard league to play in and it is a kind of kick up the backside a bit to go, look lads, this is the standard we need to improve to.”
Finches now face a double-header this weekend with a league clash against Tring Park on Saturday before going to Billingshurst in the ECB National Club Championship on Sunday.
“Every game is a big game,” said Marles.
“We’re not going to look at Tring Park and go ‘we need to win this’.
“In terms of the level of performance, that obviously needs to massively improve if we’re going to get anywhere up to the standards of last year.
“We would like to start that on Saturday.
“We’ve notoriously not been that good in cups so if we can change that too on Sunday and get more cricket then that should help out all these lads.”
Marles has named an unchanged side for Saturday’s clash at Tring Park (11.30am).
Finchampstead batting scores v Oxford: House 30, Smith 3, Marles 24, Rogers 50, Lincoln 1, Kang 7, Coetzee 2, Carter 8, Augustus 2, Parson 20, Uttley 7no.
Bowling: Coetzee 3-43, Carter 0-18, Augustus 0-48, Parson 2-44, Uttley 4-59, Marles 0-22.
