Back-to-back defeats by an aggregate of 382 runs has not dented Malden Wanderers skipper Giles Puckle’s confidence his men can turn their season around.

The Cambridge Avenue crashed to a 194-run reverse against Wimbledon on Saturday, who saw opener Graham Grace pile up 186 not out as they posted a mammoth 307 for three.

Wanderers were skittled out for 113 by Wimbledon opening bowler Richard Banham (6-23) to follow up a188-run loss to Surrey Championship Premier Division leaders Sunbury seven days earlier.

But Puckle says his side remains a solid unit and insists they can return to the form that brought them two wins in their opening three fixtures.

“Saturday was the most bizarre game of cricket I’ve been involved in,” he said.

“They were 76 without loss at lunch and we must have got the ball to pass the edge 40 or 50 times. They had ten wickets in hand for the last 20 overs and it was basically a free for all.

“The way we batted was a bit disappointing, but that is a case of changing our mindset from playing 50 over cricket to the 120 over game.

“Credit to them. We were beaten by the better team and Graham batted fantastically well, but it could have been very different on another day.

“There wasn’t much between the two teams. We are pretty confident in our cricket as a group and the way we are going about the game.

“We feel we are in quite good shape and are more than capable of turning things round with a good result against Cobham Avorians.”

Sunbury, who lost to Banstead on Saturday currently top the table, but Puckle is convinved that will only continue for as long as they have their four Middlesex players available.

“A loth of this league depends on how often you see your contracted professionals. We have two and have hardly seen anything of Stewart Walters yet this year,” he added.

“We are only a third of the way through the season and there is a lot of cricket still left to play.”

Fixtures: Banstead v Reigate Priory, Cobham Avorians v Malden Wanderers, Sutton v Guildford, Weybridge v Ashtead, Wimbledon v Sunbury.