Biddenham Cricket Club are on the board in the Premier Division of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League after a nervy one-wicket victory at Southill Park on Sunday (24 May).
After three defeats in their opening three games, the win will come as a relief as they climb off the bottom of the division, to be replaced by Lutonian who are the only club not to win a game so far.
Batting first, Southill Park were bowled out for 176, led by a half century for captain, Sami Younis with a brace of wickets apiece for Abiraj Kunjumol and Oliver Stock.
At 47/3 in the chase, the game looked to be hanging in the balance, but a composed 45 from Shivasurya Arun Krishna swung the pendulum in Biddenham’s favour and despite late wickets for Younis and George Crouch (3-55), Biddenham held on.
It was Stock and Kunjumol who eventually took them over the line with just a single wicket to spare.
Queen’s Park Westfield and Bedford stumble at home
Queen’s Park Westfield and Bedford went into this weekend with respective 100% records in an impressive start in the top tier for both clubs.
Both however stumbled on Sunday, with Queen’s Park losing at home to reigning champions, Luton Town and Indians while Bedford lost by seven wickets against Dunstable Town.
Al Mahmud Hasan’s 51 for Luton Town and Indians was a key innings as they could only post 146/8 on the notoriously tricky batting pitch at Allen Park, with Aqib Iqbal’s good start to the season continuing with ball in hand with 4-27.
The Westfield chase quickly unravelled, as they found themselves at 47/8, only for some late blows from number nine, Sebghat Ullah (21) and Iqbal (22) to save some blushes, although they were still dismissed all out for 93.
Bedford were also on the wrong end of a collapse; falling to 196 all out at home to Dunstable Town despite looking like they were going to coast to a competitive target at 171/4.
48 from Andrew Tyson top scored, but a late flurry of wickets saw them fall for below 200, and Dunstable made no mistake in mopping up their target with three overs remaining, led by an unbeaten 97 for Oliver Thacker.
Ickwell beat Flitwick by three wickets in the Premier Division’s only other fixture.
Around the grounds
Queen’s Park Westfield were able to grab some bragging rights back from Luton Town and Indians as the 2nd XIs faced off in Division One with Westfield coming out on top by 62 runs.
62 for Mujtaba Khan helped Queen’s Park to 170, but Luton Town and Indians fell for just 108 in response, with Adil Ali picking up 5-20.
The win was Westfield’s first in Division One this season, taking them up to fifth in the early stages.
Harrold and Preston faced off in the clash of the early pace setters in Division Two, with Preston winning by 32 runs.
Batting first, Hertfordshire side, Preston posted 228 thanks in large to a 114-run opening partnership between Peter Murrell (94) and James Doherty (64), with Charlie Gordon picking up three late wickets for Harrold.
At 99/7, Harrold’s chase looked done and dusted only for Tom Nicol to plunder a 32-ball 47 batting at ten to give the visitors an outside chance, but his wicket was the last to fall as Harrold were all out for 196.
Elstow were convincing winners in Division Three, needing a little over 15 overs to chase a Henlow target of 115.
Tom Roberts and Kelvin Macfarlane took three wickets apiece, with opener Raja Shahid wasting no time in the chase, hitting 43 from 17 balls to help take Elstow to their target with ease.
Elstow top the division with four wins from four, but Bedford’s 2nd XI also have a 100% record with three wins from three after an equally comfortable victory at Waresley.
3-18 for Nishant Patel restricted Waresley to just 107, with Sonam Dhingra’s 42 helping Bedford to their target inside 15 overs.
Queen’s Park Westfield’s 3rd and 4th XIs both lost out; the 3rd XI losing at Luton Town and Indians’ 3rd XI in Division Four, while the 4th team lost to league leaders, Wolverton in Division Five.
Elstow’s 2nd XI also gained a first win of the campaign, as they smashed 269/7 against Flitwick’s 4th XI.
Preet Berdie’s unbeaten 77 just outgunned his opening batter, Asif Bhatti (76) as Elstow won by 104 runs in Division Six.
