Syston Sirens Reach End Of Season Finals Day

Despite the awful summer weather and the threat of relegation hanging over the club there is some light in the darkness. Firstly the Sirens, led by Hannah Driver, were crowned joint champions with Bharat Sports of the EMWCL Softball Division 1 South. They will now contest the play-offs at the Incora County Ground Derby on Sunday 10th September.
Secondly the club have had a defibrillator, pictured above, installed in the clubhouse. This has been made possible by a very generous grant of £650 from East Midlands Airport Community Fund and a further grant of £250 from The Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League. Clearly this may be of benefit to all members, spectators and visitors to the ground should, heaven forbid, an emergency arise.
In other respects things have certainly not been going to plan. The loss of matches against Oakham and Langtons to the weather has not made Syston’s fight to avoid relegation any easier. Then the match against Barrow Town was lost from a very winnable position. Barrow were dismissed for 207 with Umar Razzaq bowling superbly to take 5-31. Syston in reply reached 101-1 and looked well on course for a much needed victory. However, once Umar (46) and Nikesh Sanjani (31) were parted, the innings folded to 158 all out. The win Syston desperately wanted finally came against Kegworth. Syston struggled to 160 all out with only Faisal Jariwala (41) and Mo Pardesi (47 not out) making significant contributions, After the break Syston bowled and fielded superbly and with three wickets each for Umar and Mo, Kegworth were dismissed for just 145.
The 2nd XI were sitting comfortably in mid table but the weather and a loss of form have seen them slip down the table. Matches against Lutterworth 2nd, Medbourne and Market Harborough were all rained off, then after dismissing Birstall Village for just 151, the 2nd XI could only muster 114 in reply. Similarly they bowled out Thorpe Arnold for 139 with Dharmist Bathia and Ketan Dudharejia each taking four wickets but were all out for just 86 with Dharmist the only player to reach double figures.
The Sunday XI are having one of their usual topsy turvy seasons. The match against Ilston Abey was lost completely to the weather and the match against Belvoir was abandoned at the break. They did however manage to get a game in against Barkby. The visitors were bowled out for 116 with Ben Tebbutt taking 4-16 and Syston squeezed home to win by 4 wickets with Yash Kapdi hitting 40 not out.
Roger Pole.