Bedford Cricket Club 1st XI continued their good form in the Premier Division of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League by squeezing past Ickwell by three wickets in a low-scoring encounter at The Bury on Sunday (5 July).
They did so in front of England test match opener, Emilio Gay who was home watching his boyhood club, although they nearly made a mess of a simple looking chase after dismissing Ickwell for just 111.
Bedford are still third, but level on points with second placed, Queen’s Park Westfield after they could only pick up four losing bonus points after falling by a single wicket against Southill Park.
With The Bury covered in red for ‘Red for Ruth Day’; the charity initiative in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, Bedford managed to crawl over the finishing line in a day dominated by bowlers.
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Dismissed for just 111, Ickwell looked down and out at the halfway stage, aided in large by 3-20 from the spin of Gilbert Kirkby, but made Bedford sweat in the second half as the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals.
Anosh Bhosale, who had earlier taken two wickets, top scored with a swift 28 as Bedford sneaked home by three wickets with Ben Welch – who last week hit 170 against Southill with bat in hand – taking three wickets for the visitors.
Southill heroics see them up to fourth
The nervy win leaves Bedford on 179 points after six wins from eight games, level on points with Queen’s Park Westfield who failed to defend 119 at Allen Park.
Ameer Ali (31) and Sebghat Ullah (26), plus 31 extras, took Queen’s Park past three figures as they recovered from 28/6, but their low total fell agonisingly short as they fell by just one wicket.
Ayaz Hussain was the hero for Southill; the number 11 batter hitting two fours and a six in a vital knock of 20 not out to take Park past the winning post after Zahid Ali Khan had earlier taken 3-19.
Southill are up to fourth.
At the other end of the table, Biddenham secured a vital win as they finally came good with the bat, posting 249/9 at Lancot Park, home of Dunstable Town, before skittling them for 155 and securing a comfortable 94-run win.
Around the grounds
While Queen’s Park’s first team were playing out an agonising loss, their 2nd XI were putting the sword to New Bradwell in Division One, thrashing them by 132 runs.
Batting first, Westfield posted 299/7, led by a swashbuckling 71 from just 48 balls by A. Wajahat, while Zain Yousuf was not far behind with a 59-ball 68.
A target of 300 was a step too far for New Bradwell, who quickly fell to 90/4 thanks in large to Adam Abbas (3-31), with Queen’s Park winning easily to rise up the table to fifth.
In Division Two, Harrold are the new table toppers after a 67-run victory at Langford.
Pasan Kulasinghe’s run-a-ball 79 led the way as Harrold posted a respectable 224/8, and later mopped up the tail with three wickets as Harrold coasted home to a victory that leaves them seven points clear at the summit.
Elstow’s 100% record in Division Three was ended in devastating fashion, as they were thrashed by 163 runs by Bedford 2nd XI at The Warren.
Bedford posted 251/8, with Manish Kumar (72) top scoring, but a crushing opening bowling spell by Bedford bowler Abdur Rashid (5-19) blew the top order away, with Elstow unable to recover and eventually bowled out for just 88.
Elstow remain top, but just two points ahead of Milton Keynes Rising Stars, with Bedford a further 32 points back in third.
Queen’s Park Westfield lost by 40 runs at Godmanchester Town in Division Four, despite 66 from opening batter, Imran Bhatti, while their 4th XI fell to the same fate as they lost at home to Eaton Bray in Division Five.
Elstow’s dismal day was wrapped up with a nine-wicket loss by their 2nd XI at Biggleswade 2nd XI in Division Six, but Harrold 2nd XI followed their first team to the summit after beating Cople by six wickets.
Kempston Hammers are also up to third after their 88-run triumph at Flitwick 4th XI.
