RAIN BUT SUN SHINES ON TOP TEAMS – 8 MARCH 2025
Saturday’s early morning rain led to the cancellation of all afternoon grade matches and all youth fixtures below the 1st XI level. Despite forecasts predicting clearing conditions, Metro faced a tough decision. With some grounds likely unplayable, and fairness to all teams at a crucial stage of the season, they made the frustrating—but likely correct call — to cancel all uncovered grades.
However, in the few matches that did go ahead, Sydenham enjoyed a strong day with the Premier Women securing a bonus point victory over table-toppers OBC at Sydenham Park, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the one-day finals. The Premier Men put in a solid all-round performance against St Albans at the Nursery Ground, Hagley. Mitch Gardner was the standout with a six-wicket haul across the two Saints innings, while Michael Robinson, Ryan Wallace, and Dylan McArdle contributed with valuable half-centuries or near half-centuries.
The Championship side has perhaps a small advantage in their match against St Albans, thanks to an Eliyas Varghese half-century that set up a first-innings total of 171. The bowlers then made inroads, reducing Saints to 92-5 at stumps. Division 1 trails Marist Harewood by 46 runs after day one at Sydenham. A five-wicket haul (5-59) from Zack Howe helped contain the opposition after Sydenham’s had scored a modest 134 1st innings total. The Youth First XI put up a competitive fight against North West Youth’s 1st XI on Hagley 4 but fell short in their chase of 210, unable to build the partnerships needed to get over the line.
Some of the photos in this publication are also courtesy of Ash Hart’s Hartland Images.
Scott Insurance Brokers Insurance Premier Men
Sydenham took on St Albans at the Nursery Ground at Hagley Oval in the penultimate 2-day round of the season in a competition that is extremely tight. Whilst Burnside West hold a narrow six-point lead over second-placed St Albans, there is only a 10-point spread covering second down to last place – so plenty left in the season for all teams to fight for.
The early morning rain would have encouraged most teams to bowl first, and Sydenham enjoyed that opportunity when the coin toss fell their way. After a delayed started to 12.40pm, St Alban’s started well enough, with their two openers, Meluish and Cochran, managing the opening overs well. They got through to 31 by the 9th over before Mitch Gardner struck with successive deliveries, leaving them 32-2. Another small recovery ensued to 66-2 before Archie Goodrick claimed his first wicket and the Saints innings struggled from there.
Dylan McArdle takes the wicket of Tom Flavell
Only four bowlers were used with the first change bowlers, Archie and Dylan McArdle, keeping up the pressure and picking up a couple of wickets each. Saints struggled to establish partnerships and could not get the run rate up much above two’s on an unusually green and slower outfield at the Nursery Ground. Mitch returned for his second spell to claim another two wickets to finish with 4-30, and likewise, Tom Agnew claimed his two in his final over as St Albans finished all out for 109 in the 38th over.
The Sydenham reply didn’t start well when Akshan Gulati was caught in front with the score at four, but the batting was solid from there. Jacob Cotter and Michael Robinson were comfort in putting on 47 for the 2nd wicket before Jacob (16 off 49 balls) steered one to slip off Souness. Michael continued on, always looking in control until he was out for 45 off 55 balls when he found the boundary rider behind square with the score now at 87-3. After getting to 16, Aarush Bhagwat left in the following over when he missed one from off-spinner Ellison and was out stumped with the score at 91-4.
Jacob Cotter
Aarush’s dismissal brought Ryan Wallace and Dylan McArdle together, and with an obvious plan to accelerate the innings, the pair wasted no time settling in. Boundaries stated to come in quick time, six sixes amongst them, as the run rate jumped from around four to close to tens. The pair proceeded to put on 105 for the 5th wicket with two remarkably similar innings. It was another typical Ryan Wallace half-century, be it that the match situation saw his unbeaten 56 come from just 36 balls. Dylan’s innings was further evidence of the 18-year-old’s adaptability; an ability to play it tight when he needs to, and then to be brutal when it’s not. He was last out in the final overs hit-out for 53 from 35 balls as Sydenham declared at 196-5, a lead of 87 runs.
Michael Robinson
The declaration left seven overs in the day for Sydenham to try to make some inroads into the Saints 2nd innings. They got immediate reward in the first over when Mitch Gardner took his fifth wicket of the day when he had Melhuish caught down legside, and then in the dying moments of the day, Dry unluckily had Mitch hit the bail for the second wicket at 14-2.
Thanks to umpires David Henderson and Gavin Fantastic
Full scoreboard & video highlights: https://live.nvplay.com/play/?tab=m_summary#m6fc22629-27b8-45db-acff-f310006957d3
Birdwood Café Premier Women
Match report courtesy of Linda Pettigrew
With rain throughout the week, the Premier Women were one of the fortunate teams to get to play cricket on what turned out to be a great day on Saturday. Our Premier Women put together a solid performance to secure a bonus point win against OBC, the top of the table, retaining their second-place position.
Elsie Duncan
A ground delay due to a wet outfield resulted in a 1pm start, with overs reduced to 39.
Sydenham lost the toss and were sent into the field, which played out well. Openers Boadicea Lynch and Elsie Duncan had an excellent opening spell, dismissing both openers for low scores. OBC then formed a good partnership for the next wicket. Dot ball pressure eventually got the breakthrough in the 23rd over with Rachel Davidson picking up her first wicket of the day with an excellent catch by Felicity Robertson. Once the end was opened Sydenham continued the pressure with great bowling and regular wickets. Rachel finished the best of the bowlers 3/20, Elsie and Beth Dodd both got 2/19. OBC were dismissed all out on the last ball of their innings for 121.
Megan Meltzer
After last week’s batting disaster, this week looked like a completely different team. All the top order made excellent contributions to chase OBC’s total in 26 overs. Openers Floss (17) and Kate Irwin (27) started well. With a base built Sydenham kept the score turning with contributions from Megan (25) and Kate Craig (27*) to chase OBC in 26 overs.
Thanks to umpires Matthew Hill and Allan Hill
Full scoreboard &video highlights: https://live.nvplay.com/nz?tab=m_summary#m57b7bcb9-ee73-4e0b-8c03-21a67febd3f0
Scott Insurance Brokers Championship
Match report courtesy of Matt Bell
It was a nice surprise on Saturday to have the weather clear up and get some cricket played in what is an important 4 weeks for the championship to secure points and stay in the grade. While it was a delayed start at 12:40pm there was time to play 2 sessions of 3 hours through to 7pm and still get in 92 overs in the day. While the sun came out, Saints won the toss and rightfully still wanted to bowl first after all the rain that had occurred earlier in the week and on Saturday morning. While Sydenham lost the early wicket of Nathaneal Paltridge in the second over of the day, Matt Bell 31 (64) and Eliyas Varghese 58 (96) combined nicely to get the team back on track at 1/80 off 25 overs. Then Saints turned to their spin duo of Thomas McLean 4/67 (23) and Sam Kearns 4/47 (19) and they wrestled the advantage back having Sydenham at 127/7 at the tea break. While these two bowled unchanged for the rest of the match they naturally started to get tired and Tom Mcdonald 18 (48), Charlie Finnie 16 (33) and Carl Hooper 20* (30) all contributed nicely to get the side to all out 171 (57).
Charlie Finnie makes his ground
The team started strong with a wicket from each of the first overs from Carl Hooper 1/9 (5) and Charlie Finnie 2/20 (8) and Saints quickly found themselves under pressure at 4/2 (2). Then Saints dug in with a nice partnership forming between Boston Fielding 17 (34) and Manpreet Sharma 45* (82) which stalled the early momentum until Boston had to retired hurt after straining his calf muscle. This was a nice break for the team and they quickly got back on track with some quick wickets to MaKenzie Thomson 1/28 (5) and Josh Wedlake 1/17 (6) and suddenly the game had changed again with Saints 4/50. There was a late wicket of Paddy Cochran 17 (27) to Charlie Finnie which had Sydenham slightly in front at the end of the day with Saints 5/92 (28) and with injury they are effectively 6 down for 92 in the 1st innings.
Carl Hooper
The teams will start a bit early next Saturday after bad light stopped play with 3 overs to go at 7pm as the clouds started to roll back in the evening. Manprett Sharma will be the key wicket for Sydenham as they will look to close out Saints first innings with a small lead and then look to set up a nice chase for Saints and chase the outright late in the afternoon.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/cmca-adult-summer-202425/mens-championship/game-centre/a8de4990
Division 1
Match report courtesy of Richard Howe
Div 1 v Marist at Syd 2, 8/3
A wet start to the morning meant a late start. The covers had done their job, and we started at 12,30 with outfield just slightly damp (except for the usual mud pool in the northwest corner) and the small water feature on the edge of the block. Following a “brain fart’ the captain eventually communicated to Marist that we would bat, after we won the toss
Usual opener Josh Gard was sick and with no responses to a call for opening bat replacement within the team Zack Howe volunteered, and was promptly out first ball he faced. Carl Quinn joined Todd Ward and took a positive approach scoring a quick 20 before he was caught with the score on 25. Harry Restieaux joined Todd and both were watchful of some tight bowling before Todd was out for 13, followed by Mitch Suddaby in an unfortunate run out. Mitch had looked very comfortable in defense and hit a lovely 6, so it really felt like his innings was cut well short, out for 13. Harry was next out for 18 which included a lovely cover drive that even had the bowler exclaiming “shot!”. It was around now that one of Marist’s “more mature” players did his hammy chasing a ball – they were down to 10.
Carl Quinn
Div 1’s two most reliable batsmen this season, Gaurav Jadhav and Isaiah Prasad came together at 63 for 5 with a fair bit of pressure on them.
They both batted well putting on 62 before Isaiah was out for 34. Cam Spriggs, (in for Josh) miss-timed one and was out for 1 and then Gaurav was gone for 34. Unfortunately there was very little from the tail and we were all out for 134. in the 42nd over.
Harry and Oliver Garden opened the bowling with solid spells but no wickets. Spin was introduced by way of Zack Howe in the 10th over, along with Issiah’s medium pace. Zack started well and beat the bat a few times, so it was not a big surprise when he made the first breakthrough, but Marist had already taken over 50 out of the target.
Todd Ward
Next over Zack struck again, and Nathan Chin was introduced to replace Isaiah.
Both spinners were causing problems for Marist, but it was Zack who nabbed the next 2 wickets, before Nathan joined the fun.
Zack’s 5fer came courtesy of a screamer of a catch from Mitch at short mid-off, which then inspired Cam at slip to take an excellent (2 handed!!) catch for Nathan’s 2nd. Richard Howe took over from Zack in an attempt to do something of value (other than 0 not out off 0 batting). Nathan claimed his 3rd and Richard the 9th and final. Marist, 180, and 46 ahead. All 9 wickets from spinners, but on another day the pacers could have easily had a few. Wicket takers: Zack Howe 5 for 59 off 14 overs, Nathan Chin 3-44-12 & Richard Howe 1-13-3.1
With a few of our batters out when they were looking ominous, the 46 run deficit should not be considered a big challenge to overcome next week as we seek an outright win, as long as we all stay focused and patient.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202425/mens-division-1/game-centre/71880c1d
Youth First XI – LOST
Match report courtesy of Daniel Herd
Sydenham Youth 1sts met North West 1sts at Hagley Corner in what was always tipped to be good contest between two of the form Youth Cup teams. Despite the inclement morning weather, the pitch conditions supported good cricket. North West won the toss and elected to bat – meaning both teams got their choice.
Fin Hill (batsmen)
NW play an attacking brand of cricket, while Sydenham knew regular wickets were the key. With NW at 4/61, the Sydenham boys were pretty pleased with proceedings. A 5th wicket partnership of 64 swung things NW’s way, before Sydenham began to chip out more batters. Sydenham couldn’t quite get the last wicket. NW declared after 50 overs on 210 – which limited Sydenham to playing for a win (10 points) or a losing draw (2 points from batting out the overs) under the declaration cricket format. All of Sydenham’s frontline pace bowlers contributed excellent spells – Cadell Durdin (2/37 from 10), Quinn Helms (2/45 from 12), Potiki Hamilton-Morrison (2/48 from 10) and Josh Chapman (1/18 from 5). Special mention to Archie Nielson who was called up late from the 2nd XI to take on the role of premier spinner and returned excellent figures of 2/31 from 9 overs.
Sam Johns
Sydenham’s plan was to lay a solid platform and then attack NW’s total in the second half of the innings. At 2/50 at drinks (thanks to Sam Johns’ 23) Sydenham was fairly well placed. Isaac Tutt (24) and Conway Andrews (32 at 106 strike rate) kept the momentum going. At 5/100, requiring 110 runs off 22 overs, C Durdin had a big decision to make – go for the win or settle for a draw. A win would secure a place in the Championship in the 2nd half of the year (1st goal of this season) and a chance at winning the Cup. A losing draw (2 points) would mean very little – as Sydenham would still need to win one of the next two games.
The team unanimously decided to have a crack. Harry Durdin made 14 on debut. Al Derry led the attacking charge – after scoring 3 off 20, he scored 25 off the next 21. C Durdin made 14*. Unfortunately, no one else was able to get going and Sydenham were bowled out for 166 in the 48th over.
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