Bedford Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI made mathematically certain of a third shot at the Bedfordshire County Cricket League Premier Division in four years by securing a play-off spot after confirming second place in Division One.
Their 66-run run victory over Harlington at The Bury puts them out of the reach of third placed, Ampthill while Ickwell narrowly beat New Bradwell to need just two points on the final day to gain another league title and automatic promotion.
Jonathan Huggins once again led the way for Bedford as Rohit Mehmi’s team confirmed their play-off spot with a comfortable victory over a dangerous Harlington at The Bury on Sunday (31 August).
Huggins’ 78 from 79 balls was one part of an opening wicket partnership of 133 with Vedant Somal (57) as Bedford looked to be on for a huge score only to falter slightly in the final ten overs as they posted a still competitive 233/8.
Wickets at regular intervals meant Harlington were never able to gain any momentum in their chase, as wickets were shared amongst the Bedford bowlers, led by the ever-present Jonny Dove who took 3-19.
The final day of the season (on 7 September) may have looked very different had Ickwell not recovered from 88/6, chasing New Bradwell’s 126 in Milton Keynes but they eventually won by two wickets to all but secure the championship.
While Bedford still have an outside chance of a dramatic league title win, they will need maximum points against Eggington on the final day and hope Ickwell lose heavily.
Their focus will largely be on Caldecote, who are guaranteed to finish eighth in the Premier Division, and are now in the firing line. The Premier Division play-off is due to take place on Sunday 14 September at The Bury on Church Lane, Bedford.
Queens Park and Biddenham fall
It was a day to forget for both of the Borough’s sides in the Premier Division, as Biddenham fell to new champions, Luton Town and Indians, while Queens Park Westfield were skittled for just 59 at Allen Park in falling heavily to Southill Park.
Luton Town and Indians hosted Biddenham after winning their first top tier title since 2014 last weekend, and beat their opponents by seven wickets as Biddenham could only post 153 batting first.
No batter scored over 30 for the visitors, as Devansh Kumar Sharma began a spectacular day in securing 3-13 for Luton Town and Indians, before smashing an unbeaten 91 from 74 balls to secure a simple victory.
Southill Park were also easy victors at Queens Park, posting 248/9 to win by 189 runs to rise to second in the table.
Second team also fall cheaply
There has been a title to celebrate at Allen Park, with Queens Park Westfield 2nd XI confirming their Division Two title last weekend, but they will be disappointed with Sunday’s result as they missed out on a smash and grab at Lutonian 2nd XI.
The game looked to be done and dusted as Westfield were bowled out for 89 at Lower Wardown Park, but a burst of 4-17 from Mohammad Ali for Queens Park helped reduce Lutonians to 62/7, although they were able to squeeze home by one wicket.
Harrold’s season is now finished as they have their free week next Sunday, and they miss out on a promotion spot despite a 43-run victory against Olney Town.
Harrold posted a target of just 145/8 but Olney found it equally as tough to bat, with Tom Nicol leading the way with the ball, securing 3-20 to help bowl Olney out for 101.
At the other end of the table, Elstow lost a huge game against fellow relegation candidates, Preston, falling by 94 runs.
Josh Wigginton’s 110 helped take Preston to a huge 296/9 and while there was some late hitting from Toby Hudson (37), it was never enough to get close as Elstow finished on 202/8 and are now in the relegation zone with one game to play.
Bedford 2nd XI promoted to Division Three
Queens Park Westfield 3rd XI are still in danger of going down in Division Three after losing by three wickets against Southill Park’s 2nd XI.
Westfield were bowled out for 173, but Southill wasted no time in chasing the target and did so with 14 overs to spare, despite losing seven wickets.
Queens Park are still 23 points clear of eighth-placed, Waresley as the two teams face off in a relegation decider next Sunday.
Bedford’s 2nd XI are in pole position to win Division Four after an impressive seven-wicket victory at Godmanchester Town, and secured a promotion spot in doing so.
Abu Kalam and Sharafudeen Kabeer took three wickets each with the new ball to dismiss Godmanchester for just 125, while Manish Kumar scored a quickfire 47 to help take Bedford easily to their target.
Hot on their heels – and just five points behind – are Milton Keynes Rising Stars who chased third-placed, Ickwell’s 138 to confirm promotion of their own, with Rising Stars and Bedford facing Old Warden and Cranfield University respectively next weekend.
Harrold 2nd XI completed their season with a 23-run victory over Olney Town in Division Six, while Elstow won just their fourth game of the season with a dramatic one-run victory against Biggleswade 2nd XI, whose own promotion hopes are over.
The Queens Park Westfield’s 4th XI promotion hopes are very much on however, after thrashing Blunham.
Hamza Waqar (92) and Hashim Muhammad (90) helped them to 286/5, a target Blunham never looked like closing in on, with Westfield just two points off Bletchley at the top, and Cople chasing them both in third place.
