Sonia Odedra is currently playing for Syston’s second team in Division Three but has made such an impact that she will be given her chance to step up between now and the end of the season.
“She is a serious player,” said Syston Skipper Scott Cooper: “We will definitely give her a taste of the Premier Division towards the end of the season.
“She had been looking for a club, but no-one gave her a chance. In these days you have to be open minded and, if you are good enough, you will play. If it’s a girl then so be it.
“She bowls off stump, has a slower ball, bowls line and length and swings it.
“She also has a very good attitude and I will have no qualms about playing her.”
Sonia, 20, became involved in Cricket at an early age through her brother Ravi.
“He had me bowling at him in the garden when I was about six or seven,” she said. “He would never let me bat, though, just bowl.
“Then I became Captain of the Coleman Primary School team of boys and I was recommended to the County.
“I had trials with the County, but then took a break before I found out about girls teams.
“I played for the County Under- 15’s, Under- 17’s and the Senior side.
“But I was advised to leave Leicestershire and go on to play in Nottinghamshire to further my England ambitions.
“I play for Syston on a Saturday and Ransome and Marles girls team in the North Premier League in Nottingham on a Sunday.”
Sonia is no slouch with a bat, either: She has a top score of 43 not out for Syston seconds and has scored a century for Leicestershire Ladies. But she is more a bowler who bats and is not worried about playing against men.
“When I first played for Syston I was nervous, but I have got used to it now,” she said. “Batsmen are not very happy when I get them out!
“Syston have been very supportive and if I play in the Premier Division, it will be a great honour.
“It will be something very big to be the first girl to play at that level.
“My dad Balu is really into cricket and I love playing. I am at the City Cricket Academy most days and everyone has been really nice to me.
“The coaches have improved my batting and bowling.”
After Premier Division cricket, the next for Sonia is the England’s Women’s team.
“I have practiced with England twice and I think I am bale to break into the team,” she said.
One man who believes that is inevitable is Anshuman Bhagawati, owner of the City Cricket Academy.
“She will definitely play for England,” he said. “I have never seen anyone so dedicated.
“And she will test top batsmen in the Premier Division. She is quite quick, swings it away and is very fit”
Alan Beynon skipper of syston seconds, sees Sonia in action every week and he too, is a convert.
“She has played eight games for us and she’s a very good player,” he said. I didn’t open the bowling with her at first but, after a couple of games, she asked for the new ball and now she opens.
“She can swing it like a banana and when she gains more control she will bowl a lot tighter.
“She has bowled 58 overs for us, had six maidens and has taken eight wickets at 35.8.
“She has had seven innings as a middle-order batter, scoring 123 runs at an average of 20.5.
“She’s also a very quick fielder with a good arm and she’s always ready to listen and learn.
“I spoke to Scott and we think she deserves a place in the first team, probably at the back end of the season.”
By Ken Widdows
Article taken from Leicester Mercury