Bedford Cricket Club and Queen’s Park Westfield’s 1st XI are setting the early pace in the Premier Division of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League after wins in the third round of fixtures on Sunday (17 May).
Queen’s Park beat Dunstable Town in a rain-affected game at Allen Park, while newly promoted Bedford made it two wins from two with a huge win at Lutonian in the south of the county.
Queen’s Park Westfield are top of the league with three wins from three, aided by a rain-affected nine-wicket victory against Dunstable Town.
Bowling first, Queen’s Park were able to restrict Dunstable to just 148/9 from their 40 overs, with Aqib Iqbal leading the way with 4-13, while Zahid Ali Khan continued his fine start to the campaign with 4-20 later on.
Rain then struck Allen Park, meaning Westfield’s target was reduced to just 76, with a number of overs slashed, but they were able to reach it with the loss of just one wicket.
They sit a single point ahead of reigning champions, Luton Town and Indians in second who have also won all three of their opening league games.
Somal spins to victory
Bedford Cricket Club, who have already sat out a free week in the Bedfordshire County Cricket League, sit third after a second win as many games, beating the rain at Lutonian to coast home by 112 runs.
Batting first, Bedford were once again led from the front by captain Rohit Mehmi who compiled a patient 46, while Maninder Singh chipped in with a run-a-ball 31 as Bedford posted a competitive 203.
The tricky nature of the pitch was confirmed in the second innings, as Lutonian were skittled for just 91, thanks in large to the spin of Vedant Somal, who picked up 4-12 when opening the bowling.
It helped reduce Lutonian to 36/5, and it was a devestating start the hosts never recovered from, as they meekly fell short of three figures, with Gilbert Kirby and Manvir Chauhan both picking up a further brace of wickets for Bedford.
In contrast, Biddenham sit bottom of the pile after a third loss in three games, succumbing to Ickwell on Sunday.
64 from captain, Sam Kumar helped Biddenham to a total of 162, but Ickwell’s target was also amended due to the rain, and and unbeaten 41 from Tommie Baddeley helped them home by seven wickets.
Around the grounds
Queen’s Park Westfield’s 2nd XI were back in action in Division One, but lost out at recently relegated, Caldecote.
108 from Muhammad Furqan took Caldecote to a competitive 231/9, with Queen’s Park’s Imran Khan taking 3-44, and despite a solid innings of 67 Saiesh Gutta, Westfield fell short on 193 all out.
They sit bottom of Division One after two losses from two games.
Harrold have started life in Division Two well, and sit top of the league after their second win from three games over Olney Town.
Half centuries for Mo Davis (66), Danidu Hewage (60) and Charlie Gordon (51 not out) all contributed to an excellent total of 234/6 at Harrold, with Olney falling well short on 110, as Joe Peckham took three wickets.
Elstow’s top three were on fire in Hertfordshire in Division Three, as the league leaders comfortably beat Hitchin by 107 runs to maintain their own perfect start to the campaign.
Opening batters, Raja Shahid (72) and Gurraj Galsin (82) helped Elstow to a good start, but they were both usurped by Hamayun Shahid who smashed a 72-ball 94 to take Elstow to an unassailable target of 285/4 at Lucas Lane.
Alex Couling and Zeyaan Ali both took three wickets in the defence, as Hitchin fell for 178.
Bedford’s 2nd XI also had a comfortable afternoon when they hosted Lutonian’s 3rd XI in Division Three, winning by six wickets chasing just 96.
Muhammad Umair’s 3-23 was the stand out for Bedford, and despite regular wickets falling in the chase, Bedford had more than enough in hand to take them over the line.
Queen’s Park Westfield 3rd XI lost in Division Four at home to Dunstable Town 3rd XI in another rain-affected game, while their 4th XI also lost out in Division Five at Harlington 2nd XI.
Harrold and Elstow faced off in a battle of the 2nd XIs in Division Six, with Harrold coming out on top by seven wickets, while Kempston Hammers were also victors in the same division, as they beat Biggleswade’s 2nd XI by five wickets.
