HARVEER Gandam believes Burnham Cricket Club wound up on the wrong side of the Duckworth-Lewis method after a 126-run defeat to Banbury on Saturday.

Burnham restricted Banbury, the current Home Counties Division One leaders, to 235-7 from 50 overs before rain arrived at Taplow Common Road.

When play resumed, the home team were asked to chase 147 from 20 overs but were bowled out for 109 with 13 balls remaining in the match.

Gandam admits that it is another game that Burnham should have won though he will not lose any sleep over the result because of the mitigating circumstances behind it.

“I’m a bit disappointed because I felt it was another game where, had there not been interference, it would have been a different story,” the skipper told the Observer.

“However, the Duckworth-Lewis method was brought into play and sadly for us they were not great conditions to bat in.

“We ended up on the wrong side of the system and, with no draws in the 50-over format, you have got to go for the win.

“Banbury got off to a bit of a flyer at seven runs per over, but I made a couple of changes which brought us back into the game.

“Tight bowling created chances but, if I’m honest, our fielding was the difference. We gave away 30-40 runs so the score could have been down to around 120 which would have been a lot easier to chase.

“That is the problem we have got at the moment. The bowlers have done a great job and you can’t really argue with their efforts, but if you’re not supporting them in the field as a team, it gets frustrating.”

Gandam continued: “The wicket was better this week even though it was a bit overcast. The ball came onto the bat and I genuinely thought that it would be our game, but it became a rain-affected match.”

“You have then got to change your system and batting line-up to adapt, so I’m not reading too much into the result.

“The way it panned out, we managed to bring the run rate down, but no one else got in and that was the difference really.

“We felt it was another game we should have won. I’d have backed the boys to chase 235 as it was not one of the strongest Banbury teams we’ve played. They are re-building at the moment, the same as us.

“There are going to be times like this, but when individuals learn to win games on their own, they should start to do it more regularly.”

He added: “The mood in the dressing room is quality, the best it has been for years, and results will come if players do what they need to. It’s tough but it’s cool and the players worked really hard in the week.”

Burnham travel to Reading this Saturday (11.30am start) and, though the home team have failed to win a match this season, Gandam is expecting another tough match.

He said: “We will need to put together a good performance because you can’t rock up to a game thinking that you are better, we have to go out and do the business.

“On paper it looks like one of the easier fixtures but I don’t believe it. We have got to be on our game and play to our very best.”