A century from 15-year old, Hrishi Sharma kicked the new season off in style for Bedford Cricket Club Sunday 1st XI at the weekend, as they thrashed Luton Town & Indians 2nd XI by 141 runs in Division One of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League.
The 1st XI are aiming to finally gain promotion to the Premier Division – a feat completed by Biddenham CC last season – and their pursuit of the county’s top tier in Sunday cricket began in perfect fashion at The Bury.
Bedford amassed an impressive 274/7 in their 40 overs against Luton Town & Indians; anchored in style by Sharma who scored 110 off 113 balls and ably supported by captain, Rohit Mehmi (61) and Jonathan Huggins’ 43 off 41 balls.
Luton never looked like chasing the target, falling to 82-5 by the drinks break and eventually crumbling to 133 all out with Shiv Odedra (3-46) beginning the collapse that was completed by Jonny Dove (3-9).
Poor Prem starts
Premier Division campaigns for Queens Park Westfield and Biddenham began in the worst possible way; both losing heavily against Caldecote and Lutonian respectively.
Queens Park were bundled out for 130 at Allen Park against Caldecote, losing by nine wickets while Biddenham began life in the Premier Division with a 200-run thumping at reigning champions, Lutonian, as they were bowled out for just 58 chasing 258 to win.
Elstow were victors over Queens Park Westfield’s 2nd XI in Division Two, winning by 7 wickets at The Warren.
Hamayun Shahid’s 57 helped Queens Park to 192 as Elstow stalwart, Phil Johnson picked up 4-33 but it never looked like being enough as both Johnson and Ranvir Thiarra both amassed 60 not out in quick time to win with over 4 overs remaining.
Queens Park Westfield’s 3rd XI lasted just 16.2 overs in their batting effort at Milton Keynes Warriors in Division Three, as they lost by six wickets after being dismissed for just 68, despite a brace of wickets from Zohib Iqbal and Shabbir Hussain in response.
In Division Four, Bedford CC’s 2nd XI squeezed past Old Warden by two wickets, chasing Old Warden’s 155 in tense fashion.
Wickets were shared amongst Bedford’s pace bowlers, with Hasi Perera top scoring for Warden with 41, and despite David Sills’ 4-38 for the hosts, Bedford were able to squeeze home thanks to Saiyed Mudassir Hussain’s unbeaten 37.
Kempston Hammers lost their first game of the season in Division Five at Luton Town & Indians 3rd XI by 59 runs, despite a stunning 81 off just 35 balls from Ali Jaan in the chase of Luton’s 209/6, while Elstow’s 2nd XI won in Division Six.
Further afield
Bedford Cricket Club’s Saturday XI have endured a difficult start again to life in the Northamptonshire Cricket League, losing both of their opening games to Burton Latimer and Loddington & Mawsley in Division Five.
Maninder Singh (43) was just one of two batters to reach double figures as Bedford were bundled out for just 90 on the league’s opening weekend at Burton Latimer, although opening bowlers Rylan Sellers (3-27) and Sareer Safi (2-32) did well to battle back.
They lost by five wickets, and it was the same margin of defeat at The Bury on Saturday (3 May) against Loddington & Mawsley although Bedford put up a far better fight with the bat.
Manoj Thomas’ 56 off 37 was the main contributor to Bedford’s total of 226 alongside 37 for both Arjun Manku and Sellers, but an unbeaten 88 for Loddington’s captain, James Coles alongside 58 for James Hawthorn narrowly saw the visitors home.
The side are back at The Bury on Saturday (10 May) as they welcome Wellingborough Town 2nd XI.
