Town C.C Regain Clubmark Status

July proved to be a brilliant month for Syston Town C.C. both on and off the field. Four successive 1st XI league matches were won and victories over Barwell and the LCCC Academy enabled Syston to reach the semi-final of the County Cup. In addition, thanks largely to the hard work of Chairman Ivan Spibey, Syston are now once again an ECB Clubmark club.
In the league, Syston racked up 234-7 against Ashby Hastings with Umar Razzaq hitting 72 and skipper Ram Ghuman 55. Ashby were dismissed for just 146 with left arm spinner Zahir Taher (pictured) taking 5-30. Ibstock set Syston a challenging target of 202 but Mo Salejee 68 and Asad Pathan 38 not out guided Syston to victory by five wickets. Hinckley Amateur were skittled for just 72 with Asif Mai and Zahir Taher both taking 3-8. Liam O’Farrell cracked a quick fire 40 not out as Syston knocked off the runs in just ten overs. Cropston were next up and Liam cracked a superb 127 and Ram Ghuman 55 as Syston piled up a massive 277-6. Cropston made a good fist of their reply but Umar Razzaq and Zahir Taher with three wickets each saw Cropston fall short on 239 all out.
In the County Cup, Barwell were restricted to 147 and Syston lost just two wickets in reaching their target. In the next round the LCCC Academy proved to be a sterner test and Syston were indebted to Ram Ghuman 52 as they struggled against some tight bowling to reach 148-8 in their 40 overs. Syston’s bowlers then rose to the challenge and the Academy side were dismissed for 111 with Zahir Taher once again the pick of the bowlers with 4-30.
Unfortunately the struggles of the 2nd XI have continued with a lack of runs the root of the problem. This led to defeats against Bharat Sports, Medbourne and YMA before, against Countesthorpe, the team set a challenging 200 thanks largely to an excellent century by Henry Whait. The bowlers then did the business restricting their opponents to 162-9 for the team’s second win of the season.
The Sunday XI are also going through a rough patch and have lost successive games against Ashby Carington, Rothley and Belvoir. There have been some bright spots however with Rameez Ahomed cracking 82 against Rothley and Joe Howlett 106 hitting his first century for the club against Belvoir. In that match Joe and Paddy Oakman 79 shared an opening stand of 186 and Syston were not disgraced in falling just 15 runs short in chasing a target of 258.