Waresley and Southill Park open Beds League with wins

Fielding first Lutonians were soon in terrible trouble at 24-7 with the Waresley opening bowlers, overseas Alex Watkiss (3-20) and Tom Baker (4-22), doing the damage.

A recovery of sorts saw the visitors finally reach 121 all out from 24.2 overs. However a superb unbeaten knock of 80 by Nick Kumpukkal saw Waresley over the line in 22.4 overs ensuring maximum 30 points for the win.

On Sunday Waresley host local rivals Southill Park who also ended up comfortable winners in a low scoring game, at home to Luton Town & Indians.

Things didn’t bode well to start with as Park’s batsmen were all back in the pavilion having made just 97 in 42.2 overs. Rani Thiarra with 30 was the only player to make it into double figures.

But Indians crumbled to 19-5 as Chris Watt (3-12) and George Darlow (3-23) ripped through the top order. They were eventually steamrollered for 63.

Langford’s first game in the Premier Division couldn’t have been tougher – a visit to reigning champions Dunstable.

And the hosts showed their strength with batting down the order, the first seven batsmen all making double figures. Charlie Roberts nipped in with three wickets to restrict them to 241-6.

A big second wicket partnership between Shadrach Gittens-Brown (53) and Earl Lee (80) put Langford in contention but when they were dismissed the innings faded and it finished on 202-9, 39 runs short.

Blunham had a day to forget, being skittled over for just 51 in their 162 run defeat to Eversholt. The best of the Blunham bowlers were Callum McGlynn who took five wickets and Daniel Jones (3-17).

In the First Division it was a winning start for Biggleswade, by five wickets over Lutonian at Lower Wardown Park. Daniel Szwajbak and Matthew Twigg took three wickets as the home side were all out for 190. It was Twigg who starred with the bat too, posting 63 off 88 balls as Biggleswade reached their target inside 39 overs.

Tight bowling proved effective for Sandy in their Division Four success at Leighton Town.

Sandy batted first and had number nine Arran Pickering to thank for his 39 which helped push their total to 182-9. Leighton were always behind the run rate, Harry Chinn and Sam Nugent taking two wickets each as they were restricted to 107-6.

Shahzad Ahmed bagged a three wicket haul for Southill Park II but it wasn’t enough to stop the side slipping to a 108-run loss at Hexton.

Ickwell II succumbed to an 86-run defeat on The Green to Eggington Foresters II in Division Five.

The visitors batted first and made 189-9, Tom Jackson got a couple of early wickets and Gerry Ingham bowled a tidy spell with 1-25 from his nine overs. The most threatening bowler was newcomer Ewan Wilkinson with 3 for 32.

A disastrous start was made to the Ickwell innings as Steven Proudman went for a duck in the first over and this was quickly followed by the dismissal of Chris Rix.

Jamie Barnes tried to steady the ship with a vigilant innings, and Ewan Wilkinson (36) stayed around and hit a few boundaries which helped the home side get to a three figure total.