CRICKET: Skegness faithful favourite returns to deliver seven-wicket haul

Saeed Bariwala returned to the Skegness fold and made an immediate impact with a seven-wicket haul at table topping Market Deeping.

Bariwala’s transfer from Preston was completed in the week and he wasted no time in showing the seasiders what they have been missing.

His impressive seven wickets helped the visitors skittle out their high-riding opponents for 169, as they faced a target of 198. The other three dismissals were snapped up by Ray Jordan.

Four of the wickets were the result of catches behind by wicket keeper Sean Chamberlain, who said afterwards: “Yes it was a good result. They were top of the table before the game, but we were never in any danger really.”

Indeed had it not been for the couple of sixes and three fours struck by Lee Peacock late in the day, the winning margin would have been much greater.

Chamberlain was hopeful that the return of Bariwala will see an improvement to their league position: “He’s with us for the rest of the season. With him at one end and Ray [Jordan] at the other, we should start picking up results and start climbing the table.”

Former Skegness captain Bariwala, a popular character with the Skegness faithful, will hope to continue his form when Louth visit Richmond Drive on Saturday (12 noon start).

The only disappointment for the seasiders was that they did not clinch the full 20 points after such a good start.

Openers Dylan Labuschagne and Pradeep Chanditha both hit half centuries as they put on 125 for the first wicket, but they lost the last nine wickets for just 73 runs.

Jordan and Tom Cuthbert were the only other two to reach double figures as Peacock and Mehul Adatia bagged four wickets apiece, restricting the seasiders to 198 and depriving them of the remaining two bonus batting points.

Mikey Forman was the final wicket to fall at the start of the 44th over.

This presented Deeping with six extra overs in which to reach their goal, but against the pace of Jordan they were soon in trouble.

The West Indian quickie had the top three caught behind by Chamberlain and then Bariwala entered the fray.

He broke up the threatening partnership of 54 built by Jamie Morgan and Ryan Hyman, making it 81 for four, then he ripped through the rest of the home side as their innings petered out on 169, with 15 overs left.

Skegness batting: P. Chanditha ct Sargeant b Peacock 65, D. Labuschagne ct Harrington b Peacock 57, J. Epton run out 8, N. Brackley ct Hyman b Peacock 5, S. Bariwala ct Green b Adatia 0, S. Chamberlain ct Sargeant b Peacock 5, R. Jordan ct Simmons b Fisher 12, T. Cuthbert b Adatia 12, M. Chamberlain b Adatia 0, M. Forman ct Morgan b Adatia 4, H. Houlden not out 7; extras 23.

Skegness bowling: R. Jordan 10-1-44-3; P. Chanditha 5-0-22-0; S. Bariwala 15-3-60-7; N. Brackley 11-2-39-0.