A sensational innings of 116 not out from Bedford Cricket Club captain, Rohit Mehmi helped his side to a first ever win in the Bedfordshire County Cricket League Premier Division, beating local rivals Biddenham by 73 runs on Sunday (3 May).
Mehmi, who came to the crease with his side at 1/2 and then 5/3, settled nerves with a composed innings of 116 from 112 balls, with 14 boundaries and a solitary six as he took his team to an ultimately winning total at Biddenham.
Bedford Cricket Club have reached the summit of the Bedfordshire County Cricket League for the first time in their history after last season’s play-off final saw them beat Caldecote at The Bury.
Read: Bedford Cricket Club jump final hurdle to finally win promotion to the Premier Division
Their first assignment saw them come up against local rivals, Biddenham, who had fared excellently in their own inaugural season last campaign, briefly mounting an unlikely title challenge before falling away to seventh.
Mehmi and Vincent-Emery bat on a different pitch
After the first half an hour of the new season, it looked as if Premier Division experience was going to pay, as Biddenham ripped through Bedford’s top order.
Biddenham’s Jack White was the beneficiary, taking three early wickets while Amarpal Singh took a scalp with the very first ball of the match, as Biddenham reduced Bedford to 5/3, bringing Mehmi to the crease.
Wickets continued to fall around the captain, with Bedford struggling at 60/6 when number eight, Isaac Vincent-Emery strolled to the middle and proceeded to build a match-winning partnership of 147 with Mehmi.
The partnership, in which Vincent-Emery contributed a vital 51, looked as if it was being played out on a different pitch to the rest of Bedford’s order, as the Premier Division debutants managed to reach a competitive total of 207/6.
Despite Bedford’s best efforts with bat in hand, Biddenham looked to be coasting towards the target as they strolled to 86/1 at the drinks break, before the hosts lost nine wickets for just 54 runs.
The collapse was triggered by an excellent spell from Ryan Chambers, whose 4-25 dismantled the majority of the Biddenham top order, while talisman Jonny Dove took three wickets with his leg spin as Biddenham collapsed to 134 all out.
The 73-run victory leaves Bedford top of the league – albeit after just a single game – owing to being the only side to make it past 200 in the Premier Division on a day dominated by the bowlers.
Queen’s Park Westfield 1st XI were also opening day victors as they beat Flitwick by five wickets at Allen Park.
Half centuries for Lucas Moxon-Booth and Hamd Waheed helped Flitwick to 167/8, with Amaan Mehmood taking four wickets for Queen’s Park.
The hosts collapsed to 61/5 in response, but a century partnership between Hassan Yousuf (56 not out) and Tasawar Hussain (46 not out) took Queen’s Park past their target with over eight overs remaining.
The rest of the League
Queen’s Park Westfield’s 2nd XI are the only Bedford Borough club in Division One, but have been made to wait for their debut as the opening weekend of the season was their ‘rest’ week.
Harrold, who narrowly missed out on promotion in Division Two last season, began their new campaign in dramatic fashion, securing a tie with Letchworth Garden City.
Jonny Harris’ 58 had helped Letchworth to a mediocre total of 142, with Dan Mackay taking 4-28, but Harrold were unable to usurp the total as James Lavender’s second wicket secured a tie for Letchworth, and 16 points apiece.
Bedford’s 2nd XI, now up to Division Three, were also victors on the first day, managing to win by 13 runs by defending a low total at Hitchin.
45 for Michael Jones helped Bedford to a total of 133, but it ended up being enough as they bowled their opponents out for 120, with Hafeez Rehman doing the majority of the damage with ball in hand with 4-21.
Elstow were one of the league’s high scorers, hitting 231/8 against Southill Park 2nd XI, which was enough to secure a 54-run victory.
Gurraj Galsin top scored with 60, and he was ably supported by Alex Couling’s 48 for Elstow, while three wickets apiece for Vikram Masih and Muhammad Safi took the bulk of the wickets, despite a resilient 90 from Southill’s, Tariq Riaz.
Queen’s Park Westfield’s 3rd XI were convincing winners against Milton Bryan in Division Four, skittling their opponents for just 46, while the 4th XI lost their opening game in Division Five against Flitwick 3rd XI.
In Division Six, there were opening day triumphs for Harrold’s 2nd XI against Biggleswade 2nd XI, while Kempston Hammers won at Olney Town 2nd XI after bowling their hosts out for 50.
