County cricketers record some fine results

Bedfordshire’s county sides have been recording some fine results.
CricketCricket
Cricket

Bedfordshire O50s recorded a seven-wicket win over Norfolk at Dunstable last Monday and followed that up with a similar win over Lincolnshire in Boston on Wednesday.

Three teams finished ECB O50 Group Two 24 points but Suffold, who Beds beat by one run, triumphed with Beds second and Huntingdonshire third.

All three teams lost one game each and qualify for the next round. Beds have got Cheshire at home at a venue to be decided.

Best batsman in the group matches was Luton Town & Indians’ Jeremy Page who scored 633 runs at an average of 126.6 with four centuries and a top score of 155 not out.

He also took four catches, while he and opening partner Andy Summerfield of Flitwick achieved 300-plus opening partnerships.

John Marsh of Ampthill was Beds’ highest wicket taker and finished fourth with 15 wickets. He was well supported by Lutonian chairman Sam Parkar who had a miserly economy rate of 3.6 runs per over and Paul Mustoe of Biddenham who took nine wickets.

Flitwick wicketkeeper Brian Ingram finished joint second in the fielding stats with nine victims, four catches and five stumpings.

The team was well led by Colin Stevens of Potton CC and it’s the first time that the team has finished runners-up in the group stages.

They now play Cheshire at Flitwick CC in the knckout stages on July 31, starting at 1.30pm.

Squad: Andy Summerfield, Masrk Ling, Alan Garrat, Sam Parkar, Kris Canagaseby, Martin Kinsella, Paul Mustoe, Brian Ingram, Colin Stevens (C), Jeremy Page, John Marsh.

>> Bedfordshire U17s defeated last year’s champions Oxfordshire in a two-day game at Ickwell last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bedfordshire Cricket chief executive Martin Darlow said: “These results are a just reward for the hard work put in by the managers and coaches throughout the winter to trial, select and train the players to perform at representative level.

“There is no doubt that this year there is a renewed focus by all county age groups where winning is no longer a surprise and Bedfordshire are no pushovers.

“We are a small county which does not currently benefit from sponsorship deals that other counties attract and we cannot compete financially, but we certainly maximise the potential we have.

“If we had additional funding we could be even better. The players have performed well and understand what is required and the potential opportunities open to them to follow in the footsteps of Bedfordshire’s Cook, Swann and Panesar. Bedfordshire is on the up.”

>> Bedfordshire U15s held on to beat leaders Worcestershire by five runs in their 50-over match at Henlow last Tuesday to go second in ECB Group 2.

Having won the toss, Beds captain Ben Bradley elected to bat as they amassed 209-9.

Jacob Turley (15) was dismissed leg before early on, but Ollie Pitts (26) and Adit Shah, with a patient 43, moved them along nicely before both were dismissed in quick succession.

The Beds middle order once again came into their own as, after Todd Pitkin was caught at deep midwicket for 13, Harry Fallows added a patient 38 and Ben Smith a quickfire 22.

Undefeated Worcestershire set about chasing down the total, but were stalled when Matt Fensome struck in just his second over and Kieran Smith removed the dangerous Zac Smith.

Worcs proceed to 150-2 with 19 overs left, but Kamran Bahra gave Beds a chance when he returned for his final spell and removed the impressive Henry Moberley for 77 and then Hasan Al Mahmud trapped Zen Malik LBW for 60.

A superb fielding performance, with Todd Pitkin outstanding in the covers, helped constrict Worcs as the ever-reliable Nick Walker conceded just 28 runs off his eight overs.

Beds’ pace men continued to make inroads as Bahra had captain Josh Tongue caught behind to a fine diving catch by wicketkeeper Ben Smith, Matt Fensome took two more wickets and Kieran Smith removed Worcs’ keeper as he conceded only conceded 24 runs in his spell.

Needing 10 runs off the last over with two wickets in hand Fensome made sure of victory as Ben Smith helped to run out one Worcs player as they finished five runs short.

Squad: Adit Shah (Luton Indians), Jacob Turley (Leighton Buzzard), Ollie Pitts (Ampthill), Harry Fallows (Ickwell), Todd Pitkin (Flitwick), Ben Smith (Leighton Buzzard), Kieran Smith (Ampthill), Matt Fensome (Finedon Dolben), Al Mahmud Hasan (Luton Town & Indians), Kamran Bahra (Ampthill), Ben Bradley (C, Ampthill), Nick Walker (Bedford Modern).

>> Bedfordshire U13s claimed a resounding 52-run friendly win against Norfolk U13s on Sunday.

Beds posted a respectable 218-6 in their 40 overs with opener Emillo Gay setting the pace with a dashing 67.

Alex Evans and Jack Kilduff had a terrific stand of 77 off the last 10 overs with Evans scoring 50 off only 31 balls.

Tight bowling from Gay and Lewis Donald restricted Norfolk’s openers as their pressure forced mistakes.

Kilduff and Harry Beard bowled well in the middle overs and both took two wickets as Norfolk finished well short at 166 all out.

>> Bedfordshire U11s claimed a 72-run friendly victory over Cambridgeshire U11s on Sunday.

Krishiv Vyas (24), Simeon Gay (22), Toby Williams (15 not out), Seth Robinson (15) and Ahmad Alli (10) made double figures as Beds posted 132 all out before dismissing Cambs for 60 with two wickets each for Shiva Songara, Toby Williams, Nathan Dass and Dilan Sheemar, plus one for Ali Ul Haq.

Related topics: