Emilio’s half century ensures Beds youths make it two wins from two

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat, but Kieran Duxbury and Alex Evans (both Ampthill CC) produced some economical bowling and Evans claimed the first wicket with a caught and bowled.

Herts made steady if unspectacular progress with swing bowlers Ben Wiles (Putteridge School) and Lewis Donald (Harrold CC) both passing the outside edge several times.

Two quick wickets then followed as Jack Kilduff (Dunstable Town) trapped Sean Tyler lbw, while captain Harry Beard had opener Alex Portas caught by Bedford CC team-mate Rahul Sheemar to reduce their opponents to 56-3.

Amaan Mehmood (Queens Park) claimed a wicket, but Herts changed tack and attacked as they reached 185-6 from 40 overs, with Kilduff taking 3-27.

In reply, Beds lost Archie Young-Lee (6), before Emilio Gay (Bedford CC) and Adam White (Blunham CC) constructed a superb stand of 82 at a run-rate of five an over.

White was bowled for 24, but Liam Everitt (Ampthill CC) joined Gay and picked up the mantle as they shared a 79-run partnership full of deft touches and powerful drives, that put Beds on the brink of victory at 178-2 with nine overs to go.

As rain threatened to deny Beds, Everitt got a top edge and was caught for 33, before Gay was bowled for a magnificent 81, but Kilduff and Sheemar came to the crease to easily finish the job with more than seven overs remaining.

Meanwhile, North Beds U11s District defeated Cambridge Cricket Board U11s B by 51 runs in their friendly.

North Beds batted first and made 179-5 from 40 overs thanks to 47 from Rahul Sheemar, while Advait Vaidya made 25, Robert Bassin (23) and Adam White (22).

In reply, Cambridgeshire were dismissed for 128 as Amaan Mehmood took 3-26, while Bassin claimed 2-12 and Sheemar finished with figures of 2-11.