Ahmed grabs crucial wicket as Lutonian hold their nerve

Lutonian IIs bowler Abdul Malik bowled six overs for just 19 runs against Dunstable IIs on Sunday

The visitors elected to bowl first as Lutonian were dismissed for 169 from 44.5 overs as Mohammed Haroon top scored with 35, while Suleiman Mohammed made 28, captain Asif Khan hit 23 and Hamid Riaz added 21.

In reply, Southill were cruising at 145-5, before Usman Farooq came on as the sixth bowler and picked up three wickets in one over, turning the game in his side’s favour with figures of 4-25.

Mohammed Irshad picked up 3-39, while with three needed to win, Ahtzaz Ahmed clean bowled tail-ender Lee Hoggett as Park were all out for 167.

In Division One, the IIs beat Dunstable Town by two wickets after dismissing their opponents for 138 in 45 overs as Rizwan Yousaf claimed 3-21, Nasir Munir took 2-10 and Harmain Asif picked up 2-33.

Lutonian then squeezed home at 140-8 in 43.4 overs as Avesh Odedra scored 33, while there were further contributions from Harmain Asif (29) and Awais Malik (26).

In the Bedfordshire Invitation League, Lutonian’s Division One game at Pilgrims Oakley was cancelled due to a wet pitch, while the IIs won their Division Three match against Blunham IVs as their opponents conceded.

>> Lutonian enjoyed a 68-run win over Nasons in the second round of the Bedfordshire County T20 Cup at Lower Wardown Park last week.

Batting first, Lutonian reached 188-5 as opener Naeem Khan made 54 with six fours, while Usman Farooq hammered 58 from 30 balls including eight fours and two sixes.

Nasons were then bowled out for 120 in the 18th over as Malik Sadiq took 3-15, Hamid Riaz claimed 2-3 and Umer Masood picked up 2-13.

>> In the Bedfordshire Youth Competition Development U14s South Division, Lutonian beat Leighton Buzzard by 20 runs.

The visitors chose to bat as they reached 83-7 in 20 overs as Hamza Malik scored 15, with Mohammed Shafiq making 13.

In reply, Buzzard were dismissed for 63 with two balls left, as Uzair Amjad claimed 2-11.

The were also wickets for Siyam Khan (1-2), Aqeel Hussain (1-4), Zulkifl Malik (1-4), Hamza Malik (1-5), Bilal Hussain (1-6), Saif Masood (1-7) and Salahuddeen Shaban (1-8).

Lutonian also defeated Eaton Bray by 26 runs after Siyam Khan (17) and Aqeel Hussain (16) saw the hosts to 71-3 from 16 overs.

In their reply, Bray were restricted to 45-3 as Siyam Khan took 1-1 and Abdul Rahim claimed 1-13.

In the U12s South Division, Lutonian beat Clifton by 33 runs at home.

Clifton opted to bowl first as Lutonian totalled 90-5 from 20 overs, while in response, the visitors could only manage 67-7, Aqeel Hussain taking 3-7 and wickets for Rahim Rayasat (1-3), plus Zulkifl Malik (1-13).