Bedford Cricket Club’s 1st XI maintained their hunt for a play off spot in Division One of the Bedfordshire League on Sunday as they comfortably saw off Ickwell at The Bury.
Alex Brown (86) and Harry Fallow’s half century were the only two scores to make it to double figures for Ickwell who managed to post 197 on a good pitch, with Jonny Huggins taking an impressive 4-14 with his part-time off-spin.
The chase was completed with relative ease by Bedford with Jonny Dove (58) top scoring as the target was reached with over ten overs remaining.
Biggleswade squeezed past Eggington Foresters by eight runs to keep hold of their sizable lead at the top of Division One while chasing Biddenham have a game in hand after a free week.
Second XI pull off the improbable
Bedford’s 2nd XI were also in action against Ickwell and with both teams occupying the relegation spots in Division Four, it was a key game for both sides.
Bedford batted first and looked to be slipping to a horrible defeat as they crumbled to 37-6 only for Hafeez Rehman’s swashbuckling 43 helped his team up to a still below par 111 all out.
At 53-2, the game looked done and dusted only for Sam Richardson (3-16) and Bipin Nair (4-4) to run through the middle order and eventually skittle Ickwell for 80 to claim a vital 31-run victory.
With Langford failing to chase down just 89 at Old Warden, the gap to safety for Bedford is now 24 points with four games remaining.
Queen’s Park Westfield jumped up to second place in the Premier Division with a two-wicket win at Lutonians but Flitwick look to be coasting towards the Bedfordshire League title with ten wins from twelve this season.
The Saturday XI continue to be embroiled in a relegation dogfight in the Northamptonshire League after falling by three wickets against Rushden and Higham.
Bedford did manage to stage somewhat of a recovery after slipping to 46-5 batting first, with Rohit Mehmi top scoring with 54.
175 never looked to be enough though, as Charlie Searle top scored for the visitors with 75 with Rushden and Higham leapfrogging Bedford out of the relegation zone.
Bedford travel to Carrib United next week; a key game in their quest for survival in Division Four of the Northamptonshire League.
Under 15s in pole position for County title
Bedford’s Under 15 ‘A’ side are still favourites for the youth divisional title as they have a game in hand over table-topping Ampthill with just two games left to play.
Bedford’s ‘B’ side occupy third spot after seeing off Harrold by 7 wickets on Thursday evening.
Elstow still lead the Under 13 competition by a single point, although Bedford’s Under 13 ‘A’ side also have a game in hand as they hunt another Under 13 title.
Bedford’s Women’s XI are also back in action this weekend as they host Luton Town and Indians at The Bury on Saturday afternoon as they look for their third victory.
Tom Carr is a player and volunteer for Bedford Cricket Club
