BAD weather denied High Wycombe CC the chance to prove they have learnt the lessons of last season when their opening game of the new Home Counties season against Aston Rowant was cancelled last Saturday - but a day later they made a resounding statement in the National Club Championship.

Playing the same opponents, Wycombe powered their way to 228-8 in their 45 overs before letting their bowlers run amok to have Aston Rowant back in the pavilion in just 20.2 overs, with only 49 runs on the board.

Captain Matthew Eyles said: “Everyone is really up for it to make amends for last season.

“The team is virtually the same, but we’ve got so much talent here and we just need to get our attitude right.

“But the signs are positive and that was a very good performance for our first competitive fixture.”

Eyles got the innings going with 29 before Gavin Baker (27), Alan Duncan (56), Adam Dobb (33) and Sam Buckfield (42) scored the bulk of their runs in the middle order.

The fireworks came with ball in hand though, with Baker, George Harper and Jonathan Burden reducing the hosts to 16-4.

Rowant then clambered up to 40-5 but their innings was in tatters shortly afterwards as they crashed to 42-8.

They were all out seven runs later, with James Benning ending with figures of 3-4 and Burden taking 3-13.

Harper and Baker each took a couple of scalps in the emphatic win, although Eyles admits he’d have preferred it to have come in the league.

He said: “Luckily only one game finished so we didn’t lose too much ground, but it’s important we get a good start after last season.

“The style of cricket has changed in the last few years with it being win/lose for the first quarter of the season, but we just need a few wins to get our confidence and then we should be away.”

Wycombe go to Burnham tomorrow.

Meanwhile, former England international and current national U17 and U19 spin coach Ian Salisbury will be offering bowling masterclasses at High Wycombe CC this month and next.

Salisbury, who played Test cricket for England between 1992 and 2000, is also inviting local coaches to come down and observe his specialist sessions.

To register interest, email Geoff Morgan at Young Guns Cricket Academy at geoff@ygca.co.uk

High Wycombe Ladies play their first match of the new season on Sunday when they host Eastcote at London Road.