Seasiders rue slow start

The 20 points Bracebridge Heath racked up saw them climb into second place in the table.

After winning the toss, it all went downhill for the seasiders in the absence of their usual good start.

It was the seven-wicket haul of the Heath’s opening bowler Madura Perera, his best performance for the club, that did the damage.

Twice he was on a hat-trick.

After removing Jamie Epton for the second wicket and then with the next delivery sending Alistair Ainsworth back to the pavilion, he later dismissed Tom Cuthbert and Mark Chamberlain with consecutive balls.

Ainsworth’s dismissal saw the seasiders struggling on 17 for three.

Dylan Labuschagne and Norman Brackley got them to 30 before the former fell for 11.

Brackley partnered skipper Sean Chamberlain to another 40 runs and then Ray Jordan’s 19 from 21 balls saw them reach 92 for six.

The home side then lost their final four wickets for just 20 runs, the visitors wrapping things up in the 33rd over with Madura having the Skegness captain caught behind by wicket keeper Carl Stubbs.

Current champions Bracebridge Heath didn’t hang about with their response after rain was threatened.

Paul Cook fell for just 10 runs and then Nick John and Matthew Carter saw them home before drinks.

John’s unbeaten 47 from 69 balls included four fours and one six.

Carter’s 45 not out from 50 balls included seven fours.

Skegness batting: P. Chanditha b Perera 5, D. Labuschagne ct John b Carter 11, J. Epton ct John b Perera 0, A. Ainsworth b Perera 0, N. Brackley ct Stubbs b Bradley 24, S. Chamberlain ct Stubbs b Perera 30, R. Jordan ct Fraser-Cattanach b Perera 19, T. Cuthbert b Perera 3, M. Chamberlain b Perera 0, C. Nelson ct Spence b Bradley 0, A. Sylvester not out 0.

Skegness bowling: R. Jordan 7-1- 25-0; P. Chanditha 7-0- 42-1; N. Brackley 4-0- 16-0; M. Chamberlain 3.2-0- 24-0.

On Saturday Skegness will be looking to get back to winning ways when they travel to Woodhall Spa, currently in sixth place.