Vedant Somal’s swift unbeaten century helped Bedford Cricket Club to an eight-wicket victory against Southill Park on Sunday (9 August), helping his team remain on the coattails of the top two in the Premier Division.
The Bedfordshire County Cricket League’s top tier is going down to the wire, with just 25 points separating the top three of Queen’s Park Westfield, Luton Town and Indians and Bedford with four rounds of fixtures remaining.
Dunstable Town also have an outside chance of mounting a late title challenge, sitting in fourth, 47 points off top spot.
Bedford, Luton Town and Dunstable Town were all comfortable winners on Sunday, with Queen’s Park sitting out on their free week, allowing the chasing pack to close.
Bedford chase Southill target with ease
At The Bury on Church Lane, Bedford were looking to avenge June’s heavy ten-wicket loss at Southill Park and they did just that as Rohit Mehmi’s men coasted home by eight wickets on another warm day.
Batting first, Southill were able to crawl their way to 162 all out, thanks in large to George Crouch’s run a ball 50 batting at number eight, after the visitors found themselves in trouble at 84/6.
The ever consistent Gilbert Kirkby was the stand out bowler for Bedford, claiming 4-14 with his left arm off spin, and while Bedford let Southill get away from them a touch, they still made their chase look relatively simple in the second half of the game.
They were led by Somal who crashed his way to an unbeaten 101 from 78 balls, with 80 of those runs coming from boundaries.
That was after a first-wicket stand of 86 between Somal and Jonathan Huggins (37), which all but took the game away from Southill who remain in sixth.
Vedant’s ton was part of an excellent weekend for the Somal family, with sister Vedika taking four wickets for no runs in Bedford Women’s crushing victory against St Albans in the Hertfordshire Women’s Premier League, also on Sunday.
St Albans were bowled out for just 34, allowing Bedford to win by ten wickets for their first victory of the season in that division, rising to fourth.
Biddenham are the Bedfordshire County Cricket League Premier Division’s new basement club after a comfortable home defeat against Luton Town and Indians.
Biddenham were bundled out for just 106, with number eight batter, Jack White top scoring with 39.
And despite Luton falling to 39/3 in response, a partnership of 68 between Muhammad Hamdan Khan (32 not out) and Habibullah Oryakhill (28 not out) saw Luton comfortably home.
Around the grounds
Queen’s Park Westfield’s 2nd XI were also sitting this week out, along with their third and fourth teams, which meant they remained fourth in Division One as Ampthill Town won their tenth game in 11 to remain top of the tree.
In Division Two, Harrold’s title hopes hit a major roadblock as they lost by 38 runs at league leaders, Milton Keynes Warriors.
Tom Noble took 4-28 in a promising first innings for Harrold who dismissed Milton Keynes for 128, but their second innings fell away quickly as they were skittled for just 90, with Joe Peckham top scoring with 34.
Harrold remain in the second promotion spot, 30 points clear of Lutonian 2nd XI who have a game in hand.
Elstow’s promotion from Division Three is all but secure after another big win at The Warren, beating Lutonian 3rd XI by 54 runs.
Elstow posted another heavy target of 256/6, led by Mathumithan Senthilkumar who struck 103, and aided by opening batter, Gurraj Galsin’s 71.
Vikram Masih took a five-wicket haul with ball in hand, and despite 77 for Lutonians’ Adeel Anjum, the visitors could only reach 202/8 in response.
Bedford 2nd XI’s own promotion hunt in Division Three faces an uphill struggle despite an eight-wicket victory at Southill Park 2nd XI.
Southill were bowled out for 142, with all six of Bedford’s bowlers claiming at least one wicket apiece, while the Bedford chase was as simple as their first team’s, with Manish Kumar’s unbeaten 54 leading the way.
Harrold 2nd XI still lead Division Six, and they extended their advantage over second placed, Offley and Stopsley with a five-wicket victory at Olney Town, while Kempston Hammers remain third after a four-wicket victory over Elstow 2nd XI.
