Bedford Cricket Club’s Sunday 1st XI bounced back from a heavy defeat at Southill Park last weekend to thrash the Bedfordshire County Cricket League’s reigning champions at The Bury on Sunday (14 June).
Bedford’s seven wicket victory marks the first defeat of the campaign for Luton Town and Indians, who had previously won all five of their league games, while it’s Bedford’s third win since promotion to the Premier Division.
Red for Ruth Day
At The Bury, Bedford Cricket Club were marking the first of their two ‘Red for Ruth’ fundraising days in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, and capped their day with a statement victory over reigning champions, Luton Town and Indians.
Read: Marathon cycle challenge headlines another summer of fundraising at Bedford Cricket Club
Batting first, Luton were only able to muster 125, with more than half of their runs coming from the bat of Devansh Kumar Sharma, who hit 72 before becoming the tenth and final wicket to fall.
Bedford captain, Rohit Mehmi broke the spine of the batting order with ball in hand as he gained 4-19, while Shiv Odedra’s 3-21 was also key in kick-starting an excellent fielding performance.
The chase was wrapped up in simple style inside 27 overs, with Vedant Somal top scoring with 40 as Bedford continue to hold their own in the top tier.
Local derby
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Queens Park Westfield beat local rivals, Biddenham by 78 runs to rise to second in the division.
Zahid Ali Khan’s unbeaten 102 was the main stay of an excellent total of 241/7 for Queen’s Park, with opening batter Tasawar Hussain chipping in with 54.
The ever dependable Jack White scored three more wickets for Biddenham, but the task ahead for the hosts’ batters was a large one and their chase never gained any impetus.
Captain, Sam Kumar top scored with 36, but the fall of his wicket with Biddenham six down signalled the beginning of the end, as Jahangir Ahmed’s three late wickets took Westfield to a fourth win from five league games.
Luton Town and Indians remain top, but just 17 points ahead of Queen’s Park with Bedford and Biddenham sixth and seventh respectively.
Around the grounds
Queen’s Park Westfield’s 2nd XI were also victorious in Division One, beating Ampthill Town by 15 runs.
Saiesh Gutta’s composed 75 helped Westfield to a competitive target of 206/7 at Allen Park, and while Ampthill’s chase began well, a mini collapse of five wickets for just 21 runs was their downfall, as they fell just short.
Ameer Hamza was the man to trigger that collapse, and ended up taking 5-46 as Queen’s Park picked up their second victory of the season.
Harrold maintained their good start in Division Two, coasting past Flitwick 2nd XI by 81 runs.
Pasan Kulasinghe top scored with 47 as multiple batters chipped in to a competitive total of 235/9 for Harrold, with Charlie Gordon and Rick Davis sharing seven of the ten wickets in response, as Flitwick were bowled out for 154.
They remain second, five points behind early pace setters, Preston.
Bedford’s 2nd XI suffered a chastening defeat at Rising Stars Milton Keynes in Division Three, as they were skittled for just 37, losing by eight wickets.
They remain fourth, while Milton Keynes top the division with five wins from six.
In Division Four, Queen’s Park Westfield’s 3rd XI missed out as they lost by seven wickets to Old Warden, while Queen’s Park’s 4th XI also suffered a heavy defeat at Ampthill Town 2nd XI in Division Five, losing by 113 runs.
Both Harrold 2nd XI and Kempston Hammers also lost in Division Six, against Offley and Stopsley and Cople respectively.
