Barkston and Syston Cricket Club have won the Lincoln Sunday League Division One title

Barkston and Syston Cricket Club have defied the odds to be crowned league champions.

They have won the Lincoln Sunday League Division One title to secure promotion and will now be competing next season at their highest level in the club's 60-year history.

The village club had been hit by a player shortage ahead of the campaign after losing eight members of last season's squad for a variety of reasons.

The committee kept things moving with players coming out of retirement along with the help of some youngsters and a couple of newcomers which helped things improve.

They started the campaign with a nine-wicket away win at Gully Cricketers and went on to record a further nine victories in their league season.

The club was confirmed as league champions on Sunday despite their home match with Hartsholme being cancelled due to the wet weather.