Division One of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League is hotting up towards the business end of the season, with four teams battling it out for promotion.
Biggleswade CC continue to hold a good advantage at the top, looking to make an immediate return to the Premier Division and maintained their lead with a six-wicket win at Lutonians.
Bedford CC however closed the gap to second placed Biddenham to just one point with a comfortable 71-run win at New Bradwell while Biddenham slipped up at Eggington Foresters.
Bedford’s afternoon in Milton Keynes was a relatively comfortable one; setting their opponents 191 to win on a tricky, low pitch thanks in large to a scintillating 63 from Tom Blythman.
New Bradwell lost wickets at regular intervals; their chase never gaining impetus as Jonny Dove span his way to 3-17 while Rohit Mehmi cleaned up the tail for four wickets of his own as the hosts fell for 119.
Biddenham stutter but hold on to precious second
Biddenham have been consistent in recent weeks and looked to be well on their way to another win as they posted a sizable 283 at Eggington; Sam Kumar top scoring with 72.
Eggington timed their chase perfectly though, reaching their target with three balls remaining; Najeeb Akram falling agonisingly short of a century as he top scored with 98.
The Foresters are now well in the hunt for promotion and are just 11 points behind Biddenham but have a key game in hand.
Bedford Cricket Club do however face Eggington and Biddenham in the final two league games, so there is plenty of drama to come.
Only the league winners go up automatically, with the second-placed side facing the second last side from the Premier Division in a league-ending play-off for a spot in the top tier.
Queens Park Westfield are continuing their fine form in the Premier Division and remain third after skittling Caldecote for just 92 at Allen Park.
Three wickets apiece for Tasawar Hussain and Sami Younis did the majority of the damage with captain, Hassan Yousuf mopping up the chase with relative ease.
Saturday 1st XI pull off shock win at table toppers
Bedford Cricket Club’s Saturday 1st XI have struggled at times in Division Four of the fifteen-division Northamptonshire Cricket League, but kept their hopes of a late surge for promotion alive with a shock win at table topping Wellingborough.
Captain Thomas Kelk chose to bowl first on a warm day, and his decision paid dividends as Wellingborough were reduced to 27-5, with 4-10 for the impressive Jake Brown.
Wellingborough could only reach 81 all out and despite a couple of early wickets, Luton Stonier (43 not out) steadied the ship and saw Bedford home with over half the innings remaining.
With only 22 points separating Bedford in seventh to Brixworth in second, Kelk will hope his side can go on a season-ending run of victories to perhaps steal a second consecutive promotion.
The Under 15’s posted a key win in their pursuit of the county title with a 10-wicket win at Blunham, but Ampthill are still in the hunt as they gained an equally impressive victory against Bedford’s ‘B’ team on Thursday night.
Unbeaten thirties from Alex Couling and Pavan Nahar helped Elstow regain top spot in the Under 13 division as they beat Bedford’s ‘B’ side, but Bedford’s ‘A’ side are just two points behind with a game in hand.
There was also a victory for the newly established Bedford Cricket Club Under 13 Girls side who managed to beat Hitchin by six runs, as they posted 290 for 7 in their pairs format game.
Tom Carr is a player and volunteer for Bedford Cricket Club
