Bedford Cricket Club’s Sunday 1st XI bounced back from defeat to comfortably see off Eggington Foresters by 88 runs at the top of Bedfordshire County Cricket League Division One.
After last week’s defeat at Harlington, a victory was imperative to hold off an imperious Ickwell to maintain the top spot by ten points, although Ickwell have a game in hand in second.
Bedford’s runs have helped them towards the top in the early throws of the season, but their total of 225/6 at the halfway stage left the game open for Eggington on Sunday (13 July).
Vedant Somal once again top scored with 68 with Mirza Khatib and Najeeb Akram taking two wickets apiece for Eggington but the visitors collapsed to 29/3 early in their chase to make it an uphill challenge.
A fifty partnership between Muhammad Aamir (38) and Nazakat Khan steadied the ship but the introduction of Arjun Manku’s spin sunk it as the stalwart Bedford bowler took 4-34 as Eggington fell meekly for 137.
In the Premier Division, Queens Park Westfield 1st XI fell to league leaders, Luton Town and Indians by five wickets.
Queens Park could only muster 153, despite Ameer Ali’s 51 but Bilal Ahmed top scored with 60 for Luton to help steer his side home with ten balls remaining as Westfield remain sixth.
Tied game headlines Division Two
Queen’s Park’s 2nd XI were involved in a dramatic finale at Allen Park as they tied a low-scoring encounter with Olney Town.
When Westfield were put into bat and crept to 107 all out, they were on the back foot, but the unpredictable nature of the Allen Park pitch came to the fore, as Aqib Iqbal (4-19) led the way to also bowling Olney out for 107 with the points shared.
Queen’s Park are second in the division, with Stony Stratford top of the league by nett run rate.
Elstow are up to fourth after another tight affair, beating Stony Stratford by three wickets.
Faheem Mahmood’s 4-9 was the stand out with the ball as Stratford were dismissed for 137, with Ryan Lammin’s 53 leading the way in the chase despite a late flurry of wickets for Stony’s Ben Arnold who took 4-11.
Queen’s Park’s 3rd XI picked up maximum points courtesy of a Waresley concession in Division Three, while Bedford CC’s 2nd XI won comfortably at home against Cranfield University in Division Four.
Setting a target of 233/9 from their allocation of overs, the wickets were shared for the Bedford bowlers in the chase after Manish Kumar (57) and Bipin Nair (46) kicked the game off in style with a century partnership.
Bedford are third, behind Ickwell 2nd XI and Milton Keynes Rising Stars.
Kempston Hammers lost by 48 runs at Harlington 2nd XI in Division Five, while Queen’s Park Westfield 4th XI squeezed past Olney 2nd XI by four wickets in Division Six.
Elstow 2nd XI lost against Flitwick 4th XI also in Division Six.
