Double Win for Syston 1st XI

Syston’s 1st XI had a double celebration this weekend first by demolishing Ashby by 135 runs. Then on Sunday progressing to the 3rd round of the County Cup, defeating Leicester Carribeans by 83 runs. The weekend belonged to Raja Hayat who crashed a total of 182 runs over the two games. He even found time to pick up 3 wickets at Ashby to round off the weekend.

Posting 313 seemed almost a par score at Ashby as the hard deck and lightening outfield allowed the Syston batsmen to score freely. But it was the 2 nd wicket partnership of Hayat and Razzaq that gave Syston the foundation, putting on 175 with devastating batting, and the occasional riding of luck! Raja looked in fine touch smashing 21 boundaries which included 6 sixes. He eventually fell to James Neal who would eventually pick up 4 wickets. Umar continued the scoring before also falling to Neal for 76. Nikesh Savjani was the only other noteable scorer with 40 not out, as suddenly a number of Syston wickets needlessly fell in the pursuit of a record score.

But the run chase for Ashby never got going as Syston tightened it up in the field. Raja struck twice early on leaving the home side on 22-2. Aleem Mahmood and Bilal Pardesi then took a wicket a piece whilst also allowing the Ashby batsmen few opportunities to score. Superstar Mushtaq was finally called to do something during the match and ended any chance of a Ashby victory by first removing open T. Yates (30) and then taking 2 further wickets, returning with solid figures of
13-2-27-3. Mo Pardesi and man of the match Raja cleaned up the tail to wrap up an almost perfect game of cricket in the glorious sunshine.

At the internal the cup match didn’t appear to be going as well as Syston were all out for 161. Raja’s 55 and Niksesh’s 32 were the only highlights as the home-side struggled with the difficult batting conditions in the sun. But the bowling of Bilal Pardesi and Scott Cooper restored the confidence with both picking up 3 wickets and the Carribeans being scuttled out for just 78.