DAN NEWTON believes Banstead will need to work on not surrendering their wickets so cheaply after a weather-affected defeat to Sunbury on Saturday.
Sunbury, always one of the Premier Division's stronger sides, won the toss and put the Rams in to bat.
And it proved to be a good decision with the in-form Kevin Smith removing openers Jon Gunasekera and Bertie Blackwell to leave the home side at 11-2.
Billy Yeats and overseas debutant Uwe Birkenstock saved the Rams innings with 22 and 38 runs respectively, with them eventually recording 136 all out.
Banstead were unable to make a dent in Sunbury's batting, losing when the rain returned on Duckworth-Lewis with the visitors at 100-1 after 21 overs.
And skipper Newton believes losing wickets at difficult times cost his side.
"I thought after Billy Yeats and Uwe Birkenstock did so well that we might get nearer the 200-mark but they bowled well, especially Kevin Smith," Newton, who is currently out injured, said.
"We lost wickets at difficult times in the game; every time we had a break for rain or tea we seemed to lose a wicket directly after which didn't help.
"Sunbury are a strong side so it wasn't the easiest of opening matches; I think they will be strong contenders for the title again this season."
Although Newton does not expect to be back in action for a number of weeks yet, Banstead will be bolstered by the return of opening batsman Josh Lawrence and bowler, and middle order batsman, Aman Shinwari.
"Aman has just come back from Afghanistan where he's hoping to make it into their national side," Newton explained. "He played for us last season as well as playing some second team cricket for Surrey."
Banstead travel to Guildford on Saturday and Newton is looking for a little more "intensity" from his side.
"Guildford is a nice ground and a team we enjoy playing against," the skipper said. "I think we need to look at looking after our wicket a little better but also a bit more intensity in our play."
