Bedfordshire U15 cricketers claim Oxon win

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that looked like it may offer some early assistance to the Beds seam attack.

However, Oxon made steady progress until Al Mahmud Hasan picked up his first wicket for the county by removing the opening batsman for 45.

The visitors continued to build a platform and, with no help from the pitch, Beds captain Ben Bradley turned to spinner Nick Walker, who struck in his first over by removing the remaining opener thanks to a smart catch from wicketkeeper Ben Smith.

Walker continued to weave his magic and ripped through the Oxon top order, claiming three more victims - including one thanks to a fabulous diving catch at square leg by Jacob Turley - to finish with excellent figures of 4-27 from 10 overs.

Beds then returned to seam and Matt Fensome bowled a containing spell, going for just 32 off 10 overs, while skipper Ben Bradley conceded just 24 runs from his spell.

Kieran Smith took three wickets with an excellent spell at the end of the innings accurate bowling, while Kamran Bahra was instrumental in the final two wickets, clean bowling the Oxon number 10 and claiming a run out off his own bowling.

Needing 184 to win, Beds opener Adit Shah was removed early in the proceedings by a fine delivery with the score on 25.

Ollie Pitts scored at a steady rate and Harry Fallows helped to steady the ship after Jacob Turley departed for eight.

Fallows was bowled for 40 and Todd Pitkin increased the run-rate as Beds passed 150m before Pitts went for 33 and Pitkin for 50 as the tail was exposed.

Regulars wickets fell as Beds, with no wickets in hand, needed 10 runs off the last over.

Al Mahmud Hasan crashed two fours and three dot balls were followed by a wide, leaving one to win off the final delivery.

With all the Oxfordshire fielders inside the ring Hasan lofted the ball over mid-on to give Bedfordshire a hard-fought victory as they finished on 184-9.

Team: Adit Shah (Luton Town & 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 Indians), Kamran Bahra (Ampthill), Ben Bradley (C, Ampthill), Nick Walker (Bedford Modern).