Bedfordshire finally taste victory

The win, the county’s first in a one-day competition for three seasons, came too late to get them through to the quarter finals, but it should put them in good heart for the start of the three-day championship season on June 8.

Cambridgeshire had been one of the favourites to make it to the knockout stages, but this defeat ensured they suffered an early exit as well.

There were a few nerves late on - Bedfordshire lost three wickets getting the last 20 runs - but victory was thoroughly deserved and should have been by an even more convincing margin.

After two days of heavy rain, conditions were completely different to those which led to the run fiesta at Cople the previous weekend when Bedfordshire lost to Hertfordshire despite posting a score of 325-5.

This time there was a bit of help in the wicket for the bowlers while a slow outfield meant that the batsmen did not always get full value for firm shots.

Cambridgeshire chose to bat first but found it hard work with Martin Weightman putting in a useful opening spell of 1-18 from six overs.

When Shabbz Hussain was brought into the attack, he picked up two quick wickets while Alex King tied up the batsmen at the other end.

King’s 10 overs brought him figures of 2-33 and Jon 
Carpenter, like Hussain 
making his county debut, took 3-41.

That Cambridgeshire were able to total as many as 188-9 in their 50 overs was mainly due to a ninth wicket stand of 34 between Bruce (44) and Barrs (15).

Bedfordshire made the worst possible start to their chase losing Weightman for a duck and Ben Welch, another debutant, run out for two, but Luke Thomas set himself the target of batting through and he took root while George Thurstance looked to be aggressive at the other hand.

They put Bedfordshire very much in the driving seat with a third wicket partnership of 123 before Thurstance was dismissed for 66.

It should have been a doddle after this, but Reynoldson was bowled for 16 and Thomas fell for 79 to an incredible catch by Sayer, flinging himself to his right at midwicket to hold on to a shot which had come off the meat of the bat.

Alex Martin was then run out, but Hussain and Carpenter got Bedfordshire home without further alarms.

Bedfordshire have a break this weekend before starting their championship programme against Suffolk at Wardown Park, Luton, the following Sunday.

Scores: Cambridgeshire 188-9. Bedfordshire 191-6.