Bedford Cricket Club’s Sunday 1st XI handed the initiative at the top of Bedfordshire County Cricket League Division One back to Ickwell after a narrow 27-run loss at The Bury on Sunday (19 July).
The top two had carved some space between them and third-placed Ampthill in recent weeks, but Ickwell now hold a considerable advantage with a 13-point lead at the top with an additional game in hand over Bedford.
Electing to field first, Bedford were admirably led by Jonny Dove as the leg spinner claimed 4-32, including the key wicket of opening batter, Jason Welch who top scored for the visitors with 71, as Ickwell set a target of 218/6 after a small rain delay.
All-rounder, Dove also drove his team forward with bat in hand as his 62 was the top score in a chase that was nip and tuck before Alex Wing’s 3-32 tipped the balance in Ickwell’s favour.
It handed them a key victory as they look to regain a spot in the Premier Division, with Bedford eventually falling for 191.
Queens Park beat high-flying Dunstable
In said Premier Division, Queens Park Westfield maintained their mid-table position with a tense but ultimately satisfying two-wicket win against second placed, Dunstable Town.
On a traditionally low-scoring pitch at Allen Park, Dunstable opener, Jackson Shaw looked as if he was batting on a different surface to his teammates as he compiled an excellent 96 with seven fours and four sixes in a Dunstable total of 155/6.
While there was no similar swashbuckling shots from the Westfield batting order, they slowly but surely crept their way towards the target, led by opener Anshul Poothi whose unbeaten 43 steered his side home with a little over three overs to spare.
Biddenham were also victors in dramatic fashion as they beat Caldecote by just nine runs to rise to third.
Dean Dass top scored with 30 for Biddenham in a low-scoring affair, as the home side reached 164/9 as Zubair Hussain took 3/20 for the visitors, but with all the Biddenham bowlers chipping in, they were able to stifle the run chase and skittle Caldecote for 155.
Luton Town and Indians remain top of the Premier Division and were somewhat saved by the weather on Sunday, as they were skittled for 89 by local rivals, Lutonian before the rain hit southern Bedfordshire.
Weather hits lower leagues
Elstow and Harrold’s clash in Division Two didn’t see a ball bowled as the game was abandoned, along with Queen’s Park Westfield’s game at Letchworth Garden City, with Olney Town’s victory against Eversholt the only completed game in the third tier.
Queen’s Park Westfield 3rd XI were bundled out for just 53 in Division Three as Langford extended their lead at the top of the division.
Bedford CC’s 2nd XI were able to bring some cheer against their Ickwell counterparts as they rose to the top of the division with a 47-run victory at Ickwell Cricket Club.
Kempston Hammers also fell foul of the weather in their basement battle against Offley and Stopsley at the bottom of Division Five, while Elstow and Harrold’s 2nd XI game followed the same pattern as their 1st XI encounter in not making it to the start line.
There was however a massive victory in Division Six for Queen’s Park Westfield’s 4th XI as Hamza Waqar’s 77-ball 108 helped his side to an impressive 270/8, also at Allen Park before Bletchley fell for 189 with Anil Paul taking 3-26.
Queen’s Park Westfield 4th XI are up to third.
