Kettleborough hits a ton but Bedfordshire beaten in thriller

On an absolute belter of a pitch which was a credit to Cople, Bedfordshire, having been put in, hammered 325-5 from their 50 overs.

It looked sure to be a match-winning total, but the Hertfordshire batsmen matched them blow for blow with their last pair getting them home in the final over.

Bedfordshire welcomed back talented youngsters James Kettleborough and Rob Keogh, who were released for the game by Northamptonshire, and it was they who laid the foundation for a big total with a second wicket partnership of 130.

Keogh fell for 64 off 62 balls but Kettleborough went on to hammer 114 and when he was out, skipper Andy Reynoldson took charge, smashing 12 fours and a six as he raced to 81 not out off just 53 balls.

With Martin Weightman weighing in with 22 from 14 balls, the hosts looked on course to end their losing run.

Hertfordshire though had other ideas and they were given a great start by Jeyaratnam, who went on to make 91, and Ballard (50) with an opening partnership of 112.

Bedfordshire stuck to their task though with George Bacon grabbing three wickets and Reynoldson two and when the sixth Hertfordshire wicket went down at 210, the home side were favourites,

But Southgate and Latham then put on 72 before Latham was caught on the boundary for 34.

Southgate remained firm as Hertfordshire went past 300, but White was out with eight runs needed and Lamb run out by a direct hit from the boundary by Kettleborough with the score on 323.

The Bedfordshire fielders closed in, but last man Greenall squeezed the ball between them for the winning runs with Southgate still there on 52. Although they cannot now go through to the quarter-finals, Bedfordshire have one more group match left against Cambridgeshire at March on Sunday.

Scores: Bedfordshire 325-5. Hertfordshire 326-9.