The 1st XI got their season off to a flying start with an emphatic 125 run win over Eastbourne at the weekend. 
Bedford batted first in the traditional season opener and were given an excellent start by Charlie Thurston (61) and Alex Axon (39) who compiled 74 for the first wicket. A flurry of wickets followed, however, to leave us struggling at 130/5 at lunch.
A determined display of batting from first gamers Jake Duxbury (30), Charlie Clarke and Ewan Cox, with help from the experienced Will Wright, boosted our total to 230/9 at tea, at which point captain Vicram Sohal declared our innings.
No further play was possible after tea meaning Eastbourne were left with around 55 overs to achieve the target on day 2.
Robb Wright, bowling with a considerable tail wind, seriously damaged the visiting side's hopes by spearing a fast yorker in to the Eastbourne captain's stumps, and shortly after trapping the other opener LBW.
Ben Slawinski, playing his first game for the 1st XI, then proceeded to dismantle the Eastbourne middle order with a superb spell of off-spin bowling, taking 5/30 from 17 overs. He was given excellent support from Vicram Sohal (1/24) and Will Wright (2/10), and the match was wrapped up and the Randall Trophy returned to Bedford with 15 overs to spare.