RUNS PLENTIFUL FOR TOP GRADES, RESULTS NOT SO MUCH – 22 NOVEMBER 2025
Despite a polished 78 from Michael Robinson, the Premier Men fell just two wickets short, as a resilient Heathcote middle-to-lower-order fightback carried the visitors to outright victory at Sydenham Park. The Premier Women mirrored last week’s split results in the second round of the T20 competition—struggling with the bat in their opening match against North West Women, before the top order rebounded strongly in the second game to secure a comfortable win over OBC.
Adi Suganthi & Dax Barbaria
In the morning grades, the Championship and Division 2 matches followed remarkably similar scripts: big totals, centuries, and ultimately shared points. Both sides forfeited their first innings before chasing outright results, both piled on more than 300 in their second turns at the crease, and both featured standout centuries—Dax Barbaria’s 112 in the Championship and an unbeaten 168 from Adityan Suganthi in Division 2. Despite the fireworks, both fixtures ended in draws.
In the afternoon grades, two sides—the Div 3 Tamils and the Div 4 Goats—picked up wins by default after their opponents forfeited. Of the teams that actually took the field, the Div 5 All-Stars were the sole winners, driven by an outstanding all-round performance from Jacob Koster, who struck 55 and claimed 4/26 in their victory over BWU at Bradford Park. Jinto Mathews scored 108 in the Hospital Masters match as the side just failed to chase down OBC’s 239-8.
It was also a strong day for the Youth Boys, who won four of their six matches. The highlight was the 1st XI’s hard-fought win over North West Youth 1st XI on Sydenham 3, where a solid top-order effort was capped by a match-winning spell from Conway Andrews (5/31). At St Thomas, the 2nd XI enjoyed a commanding win thanks to Will Herd’s unbeaten 87, Leiff Kitto’s 55, and a tidy 4/27 from Samuel Wild. The 3rd XI, however, were well beaten by North Canterbury Youth at Rangiora despite notable performances from Neil Thakar (53) and Eli Helms (4/76). The Year 10s rounded out the day’s successes with a convincing win over North West Youth, led by a fine unbeaten 69 from Om Akash Patel and a strong bowling return of 4/28 from Angus Ferguson.
Some of the photos in this publication are also courtesy of Ash Hart’s Hartland Images.
Premier Men
Sydenham 136-9 (50 overs) & 219 (60.4 overs)
Heathcote 101 (25.5 overs) & 255-8 (58.1 overs)
This match was poised for a thrilling second day—and it delivered. Holding a modest 35-run first-innings lead and resuming at 26–2, Sydenham sent Michael Robinson and nightwatchman Mitch Gardner back to the middle. Mitch departed early at 27–3, but Robinson and Aarush Bhagwat dug in for the next 18 overs, batting patiently to lift the score to 99 before Aarush fell for 24.
Michael Robinson
Matt Tromp again impressed, striking 34 from 26 balls as he and Robbo pushed the total to 136, before a miscued pull saw him caught on the square-leg boundary. At 136–5—effectively 171 ahead—Sydenham looked at risk of falling well short of the 260–270 likely needed on a good surface. Robinson had anchored the innings superbly, and just as the lead approached 200 he was dismissed for a high-quality 78 from 139 balls.
Crucial contributions from Jackson Hemingway (31 off 46) and Matt McCall (34 off 41) added a further 57 runs and eased concerns about falling short of a defendable target. Wickets continued to fall as Sydenham looked to accelerate into a declaration, and when the final wicket fell near on cue, they finished just shy of their intended mark.
Matt McCall & Jackson Hemingway
Chasing 255 from 60 overs at 4.25 per over, Heathcote were always in the game but didn’t get the ideal start. After an opening stand of 32, Tom Agnew struck, then added two more over the next ten overs—including the key wicket of Tyler Lortan, well held at slip by Robinson. When Archie Goodrick claimed his first wicket to make it 67–4 in the 19th over, Sydenham held the advantage.
However, Heathcote’s middle and lower order rebuilt superbly, batting with composure and keeping in touch with the required rate throughout. Although wickets fell periodically, the visitors steadily shifted momentum their way and entered the final overs with a slight edge. They eventually reached the target with two wickets and two overs to spare—a deserved win after a determined chase, though Sydenham remained in the fight throughout. Tom Agnew was the best of the bowlers with 4/77, with the other wicket takers Archie Goodrick 2/61 and Cullen Crowe 2/68.
Archie Goodrick
The 2-Day competition now pauses until early March, with the T20 campaign beginning next weekend. Sydenham opens with two home fixtures at Sydenham Park on Saturday—first against OBC, then Lancaster Park in the afternoon.
Thanks again to umpires Shreyash Kalyan and David Miller
Full scoreboard & video highlights: https://live.nvplay.com/play/?tab=m_summary#m9268f57a-8b32-4bef-85a0-2a888838ddda
Birdwood Café Premier Women
Sydenham 71 (20 overs)
North West Women 73-1 (9.4 overs)
An unsettled start to the day led to the unexpected call up of Lily Hayston to debut. Lily’s debut was the highlight of the match with runs and wickets hard to come by. Many thanks to Lily for coming in at late notice (8:30 phone call), a week earlier than planned. Lily did well, facing down some experienced North West bowling.
Batting first, Sydenham struggled to build momentum and managed only 71 runs. Charlotte Clatworthy fought hard for 15, and Darcy Rose Prasad added 13, but regular wickets and slow scoring left the team well short of a competitive total.
Defending such a low score was always going to be difficult, and despite committed fielding and a few bright moments, the chase was made to look easy. Sydenham needed to regroup and find more intent with the bat in the next match.
Thanks to umpires David Henderson and Robert Hill
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/ev-power-premier-women/game-centre/0af65f64
Sydenham 138-5 (20 overs)
OBC 82 (17.3 overs)
Sydenham delivered a commanding performance to keep their season alive, posting a strong total of 138 runs built on a superb start from the top order. Felicity played with confidence and timing, scoring 22 from 17 balls and finding the boundary regularly. Darcy continued her fine form with 33 from 33 balls, mixing solid strokes with her trademark ramp shot for four that thrilled the crowd. Sam anchored the innings with a determined 43 from 41 balls before an unfortunate injury forced her to retire, a setback that will see her miss the coming weeks. Her contribution was crucial in guiding Sydenham to a competitive score.
Defending 138, Sydenham’s bowlers were ruthless. Stella produced a stunning spell, claiming five wickets for just 12 runs and dismantling the opposition’s chase with precision and control. Backed by disciplined support from the rest of the attack and sharp fielding, Sydenham wrapped up the match with ease, sealing a comprehensive win that showcased strength in all departments.
Stella Cornelius
The victory puts Sydenham level with Lancaster Park in the competition standings, setting up a must-win showdown in the next round. With a place in the final on 20 December at stake, the team will be looking to carry this momentum forward and deliver another dominant performance when it matters most.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/ev-power-premier-women/game-centre/0ec39b99
Championship
Sydenham 0-0 & 339-6 (65.3 overs)
Heathcote 0-0- & 306-8 (52 overs)
The second day of the Championship match at Heathcote Domain began with both sides forfeiting their first innings after day one was washed out. Sydenham took first use of the wicket in the second innings, and on a typically flat surface at Heathcote Domain, with a rapid outfield and modest boundaries, it was always shaping to be a batsman’s day — and so it proved.
Dax Barbaria
Sydenham’s top order all contributed, led by a commanding 124-run opening stand between Nathaneal Paltridge and Dax Barbaria. Nate looked in excellent touch before being a shade unlucky to fall for 59 off 65 balls. Dax was joined by Eliyas Varghese, and the pair added another 97 for the second wicket before Eliyas departed for a well-crafted 59 off 94 balls with the score at 221-2.
Nathaneal Paltridge
As Sydenham accelerated, the middle order added valuable runs, with Dax completing a fine century before finally being dismissed for 112 off 131 balls at 261-4. Further contributions came from Tom McDonald (32 off 37), Shevon Perera (25 off 32), Lucky Singh (19 off 25), and Dhruv Arvindkumar (20* off 15). Sydenham declared at an imposing 339-6 from 65 overs.
Eliyas Varghese
It was a tall chase, but with batting conditions still excellent, Heathcote responded strongly. Their innings mirrored Sydenham’s in many respects, with all their top order also finding runs and punishing anything loose — especially anything short. Sydenham attacked in search of breakthroughs, but Heathcote kept the run rate steady enough to remain a genuine chance deep into the innings.
As the pressure built, bowlers Makenze Thomson (14–81–4) and Josh Wedlake (15–65–3) turned defensive and delivered superb spells, tightening the screws, controlling the scoring, and eventually reducing Heathcote to eight down. With the required rate out of reach in the final overs, Heathcote shut up shop and played out time to finish at 306-8 .
The match ended in a draw, but it was an entertaining contest dominated by two strong batting line-ups.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/mens-championship/game-centre/706f357b
Division 2
Match report courtesy of Todd Ward
Sydenham 304- (51 overs)
Merivale Papanui 206-7 (53 overs)
With a first day washout we forfeited our first innings and had 107 overs to play in the second day. We lost the toss but ended up getting what we wanted and were put in to bat on what looked and felt like a flat track. Our predictions were right, over 500 runs were to be scored throughout the day. Our innings started slow and we lost a wicket early. I joined Adityan Suganthi at the crease and we began our work cautiously negating the little movement available to the bowlers and getting us through to 1 for 18 off 7 overs. The 8th over marked the start of the offensive with Adhi taking 9 off that over. From there we remained disciplined but regularly found the boundary and made the most of some slack fielding to pinch quick singles.
Freddie Winsor
We made it to drinks 1 for 115 from 23 overs, bringing up our 100 run partnership. After drinks we got straight back into our work making another 63 runs in 10 overs before I was caught on 72 after 33 overs, breaking our 165 run partnership. Ajith Shetty then joined Adhi. After getting himself in Ajith began to strike cleanly alongside Adhi. Adhi brought up a brilliant century, his first for Sydenham, and continued on to bring up his 150 shortly after. At 275 for 2 after 49 overs, I gave Ajith 2 overs to bring up his half century before we declared. He required 4 runs off the last over but unfortunately only managed 3, to be stranded on 49* alongside Adhi who had amassed 168* carrying his bat, to see us through to 304 after 51 overs.
Adityan Suganthi
We had 20 minutes to bowl at them before tea, and Lyle Cupido (2 for 30 off 7) and Ivon Bobby (0 for 5 off 8 ) started brilliantly with Ivon bowling 3 consecutive maidens and Lyle picking up the first wicket. After tea we continued to restrict the run rate to apply pressure, and had Merivale Papanui 1 for 26 after 10. A frustrating partnership was brewing, but never fear Ryan Lightfoot (2 for 20 off 7) delivered a bouncer that caught the bat on the way through and provided our second wicket. Tanhirdaypal Pannu (0 for 50 off 11) bowled brilliantly to our plan to keep the batsmen attacking but had no luck on drawing out a wicket with multiple chances falling just outside fielders reach.
Todd Ward
With 20 overs remaining in the day I brought myself on and struck in my second ball to have Merivale Pap 4 down. Isaiah Prasad (1 for 40 off 6) then struck in the following over and we were in with a sniff. Unfortunately, the flat nature of the wicket that gave us the favourable batting conditions also meant surviving was easy. With Merivale Pap 6 down (1 retired hurt) with 1 over remaining the draw was inevitable. Ryan picking up his second wicket to give us yet another sliver of hope, however Merivale Pap batted out the remaining deliveries making 206 from their 53 overs 7 down.
Full scoreboard not available
Division 3 Tamils XI – WON
The Tamils won through a forfeit by OBC
Division 4 Goats – WON
The Goats won due to a forfeit by New Brighton
Division 4 Royal Challengers – LOST
Match report courtesy of Lathish TM
Sydenham 85 (19.2 overs)
Heathcote 87-9 (27.4 overs)
Sydenham played Heathcote on Centennial Par 2. Heathcote won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sydenham faced early pressure after losing Shyam Karuthedath Narayanankutty for a golden duck in the opening over. Amrinder Singh provided some early momentum with a brisk 12 off 8, while Sujith Ajayan held the innings together with a steady 21 off 31. Despite small contributions from the middle and lower order—Arun Venupal Nair (14 off 21) regular wickets prevented Sydenham from building strong partnerships, eventually being bowled out for 85 in 19.2 overs.
Arun Nair
Chasing 86, Heathcote got a solid start through Ben McIntosh (29 off 27). However, tight and disciplined bowling from Sydenham kept the match alive throughout. Trusharkumar Desai produced an exceptional spell of 8–2–16–4, well supported by Amrinder Singh (3–15) and Sivasubramanian Natarajan (2–7). Their combined efforts kept Sydenham firmly in the contest.
Lathish TM
In the final stages of the chase, Heathcote batter Jake Walker had to leave urgently due to a family emergency. To uphold the spirit of the game, both captains agreed to allow a fill-in batsman to continue the innings. This decision reflected a shared understanding that sportsmanship and fairness outweigh the desire for a win. The fill-in batsman helped Heathcote cross the line, reaching 87/9 in 27.4 overs, securing a 1-wicket victory in a match that showcased competitiveness, respect, and exemplary sportsmanship.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/mens-division-4/game-centre/e9025d30
Division 5 All-Stars – WON
Match report courtesy of Abe Atherton
Sydenham 201-7 (40 overs)
BWU 127 (35.3 overs)
The cricketing action was fierce today as the Sydenham Division 5 All Stars faced off against the Tunnel Wash BWU Broncos. The Broncos won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision they might have questioned as the Sydenham All Stars’ top order came out swinging, setting a commanding total of 7/201 in their 40 overs!
The Sydenham All Stars’ innings was built on an exceptional foundation laid by openers Jaedyn Ward and Jacob Koster. Koster was the chief aggressor, smashing a magnificent 55 runs off just 43 balls, featuring 9 fours and a huge six, before being trapped leg-before-wicket. Ward provided rock-solid support, compiling a powerful half-century with 64 runs off 69 balls, including 10 boundaries, before eventually being bowled. Joel Thomson chipped in with a vital 30 runs from 24 deliveries! Despite a flurry of wickets in the middle overs, the innings was pushed past 200 runs with late contributions from David Te Au 10 and Abraham Atherton 11 not out.
The Sydenham All Stars’ bowlers delivered a masterful performance, demonstrating superb control and penetration. David Te Au, in his first game of the season, was a standout performer, ripping through the Broncos’ line-up with a fantastic spell, taking 3 wickets for just 16 runs off 7 overs. One of his wickets saw the bail flying to the boundary. Jacob Koster carried his excellent batting form into his bowling, taking an impressive four wickets for 26 runs in a great spell of 7.3 overs! The tight early bowling came from Abraham Atherton, who bowled a highly economical six overs, conceding a mere 5 runs with 2 maidens. Every bowler for the All Stars was on point! Chase Barnsley (1 wicket), Cameron Hatcher and Joel Thomson (1 wicket) all contributed to what was a formidable display. The Tunnel Wash BWU Broncos were all out for 127 in 35.3 overs, giving the All Stars a 74-run victory. Jacob Koster took two exceptional catches, with Sumedha Senarathna taking 1. Abraham Atherton and Jaedyn Ward combined for a runout.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/mens-division-5/game-centre/082adfd8
T20 Cavaliers Cardinals – LOST
Match report courtesy of Cavs
Sydenham 123-7 (20 overs)
OBC 124-3 (18 overs)
Sydenham Cardinals played B.W.U Duck Duck Six at Hagley Park Polo Grounds #5
After a couple of weeks without cricket—thanks to a bye and a weather cancellation—the Cardinals returned to action. This break caused some logistical headaches and created unnecessary mental load on the players as they scrambled to track down the required gear (BBQ, chilly bin, gear bag, spring loaded stumps etc). Thanks to quick coordination on social media, everything came together, and the team arrived on time ready to play.
Captain James Stokes won the toss and chose to bat. Due to a default victory for the Division 4 Sydenham Goats, long-time Cardinals stalwart Geordie Dann rejoined the side for the week. Geordie opened the batting and looked sharp, scoring freely in the early stages of the match, but wickets fell cheaply around him. When Geordie retired on 50, a valuable partnership between Donovan Clark and Fynn Wadsworth lifted the score past 100. Returning at the end Geordie (53*) combined with Manny Robert to push the total to 123. Given the large boundaries and a bowling-heavy lineup, The Cardinals believed this could be a competitive score.
Early in BWU’s innings, the Cardinals looked firmly in control. The opening bowlers kept things tight, reducing the opposition to 3/32 after eight overs. Adrian Patchett was the only bowler to unsettle the BWU top order through effective in-swing finishing with figures of 3 for 9 from his four overs. Unfortunately, those would be the only wickets to fall, as the crucial breakthrough never arrived. BWU’s middle order settled into their chase and guided the team home with ease, reaching the target with two overs to spare. For the Cardinals, it was yet another frustrating reminder of what might have been,
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/cavaliers-section-red-t20/game-centre/0a847838
T20 Gujarat Kings – WON
Match report courtesy of Yash Patel
Advanced Coolroom 135-4
Sydenham 136-6
The Sydenham Gujarat Kings pulled off one of their most dramatic wins of the season, defeating table-toppers Advanced Coolroom Techniques Kaiapoi by one wicket in a last-over thriller. A true test of nerves, teamwork, and belief — and the Kings stood tall.
Advanced Coolroom Techniques Kaiapoi batted steadily, keeping wickets intact and building partnerships, but the Kings’ bowlers made sure the total never got out of reach. A balanced bowling effort saw Yash, Dj, Arya and Dhaval each take a wicket, restricting the strong Kaiapoi side to 135-4, which proved crucial later in the game.
The King’s chase began cautiously, but pressure steadily mounted. Wickets kept falling, and with the required run rate rising, the Kings needed heroes — and they stepped up. Captain Dhananjay held the innings together with a composed and mature 39 off 51, guiding the chase despite constant pressure.
Momentum shifted when Dhairya smashed 32 off 24, injecting life back into the innings, and Deep blasted 22 off just 10 balls, swinging the game dramatically.
Even with late wickets and rising tension, the Kings held their composure and crossed the line at 136-8, winning the match with only one wicket left. A true classic. A victory full of passion, fight, and unity.
Onwards and upwards, Kings!
Full scoreboard not available
Masters Cardinals – LOST
Match report courtesy of Brenden Winder
New Brighton 202-4 (40 overs)
Sydenham 104 (27.3 overs)
If you enjoy dropped catches, questionable judgment, and the occasional display of actual cricketing skill, then you would’ve loved yesterday’s outing between Sydenham Cardinals and New Brighton on Centennial Park 1. Murray Heaton and G. Sanders opened up for New Brighton with intent, style, and—apparently—a force field. Murray was dropped six times, which is either a record or a cry for help from our fielders. Eventually he was run out for 66, proving the only way to remove him was to let him run himself out. G. Sanders added a neat 42, which would’ve looked even better if Rusty Rhodes hadn’t walked out and completely stolen the show.
Tim Hannan
Rusty arrived, was caught first ball… except it was a no-ball. This was a warning sign we all ignored. He then proceeded to quietly build before deciding, late in the innings, that cricket is far more fun when the ball is airborne. In the second-to-last over he hit five consecutive sixes, including three inside-out over cover—shots so disrespectful they should probably require planning consent. He finished 68 not out*, and New Brighton strolled to 202-4.
Wildy came out swinging for Sydenham like a man late for dinner: 1-6-4-4-6-4, then out for 25, slapping a wide straight to point—presumably to keep the innings interesting. Jimmy McKay, our skipper, decided someone needed to look like they knew how to bat. He made a classy 51, carrying the innings while chaos reigned around him. He is our Player of the Day, mostly because he remembered his job.
Phil Walker our run machine at 3 was run out by a laser throw from—you guessed it—Rusty, who seemed determined to feature in every big moment. The rest of the order chipped in with modest donations rather than actual scores. Tim Hannon and Jeremy Brown added a few late runs to make the scoreboard look less like a crime scene, but the chase fizzled well short.
The final verdict – we were well beaten by a good New Brighton side. The ground was good. The outfield was good. The opposition were good. Unfortunately for us, Rusty Rhodes was excellent.
Congratulations to New Brighton, and congratulations to Sydenham for at least providing entertainment—intentional or otherwise.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/joes-garage-masters/game-centre/e949f2ff
Masters Hospital – LOST
Match report courtesy of Bruce Day
OBC 239-8 (40 overs)
Sydenham 222 (39 overs)
Hospital played OBC on a good track but a slow field at Hagley 5. OBC won the toss and decided to bat. After 10 overs, we had 45-1, 20 overs 95-1 , 30 overs they had powered to 170-3, finally after 40 overs 239 for 8. Hospital bowling and fielding were a bit below our normal standard. John Hampton best of the bowling with 3/39 off 8.
Chasing 240 was always going to be tough, but beware of the injured batsman. Jinto had injured his hamstring bowling in the 1st over of the game but came out to bat with a determination to give the target a good chase. Jinto batted superbly, keeping Hospital in the game, scoring 108 on one leg. When he departed, we were on 159 with 10 overs left. With seven overs left, we needed 49 runs with 7 wickets left. Unfortunately, we couldn’t quite keep up the run rate as we lost wickets trying to hit out and were eventually all out in the last over for 222.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/joes-garage-masters/game-centre/df496770
Women’s Division 1 Blue– WON
Women’s Division 1 Red – LOST
Match report courtesy of Linda Pettigrew
Sydenham Blue 183-8 (35 overs)
Sydenham Red 67-9 (23 overs)
The highly anticipated local derby took place on a prime wicket at Barrington park. Winning the toss Red elected to bowl first. Zoe and Elise opened the bowling for Red, keeping the runs tight. Zoe struck first in the third over. Red continued the pressure with great energy in the field. The stand out in Blue’s top 4 batters was Millie who worked through to 21, the others out with 10 or fewer runs.
After the initial sting was over Blue capitalised through the middle overs with Sandy picking up 32 and the tail of Greer 27 and Biena 9 making impact. Blue played out all their overs finishing up 183. Top bowler for Red was Jess with 3/30 and Zoe 2/32.
Blue embraced the field with a similar energy to Red, attempting to gain the upper hand by applying pace from one end and spin from the other. The plan paid off with Lily picking up both openers and Greer restricting well before picking up the wicket of Elise who scored 87 in a previous match. Red showed bursts of intent with all players getting time in the middle. The highlights of Blue’s bowling were Millie 3/9, Lily 3/13 with some great catching by the whole team (Biena, Lily, Millie – 2 caught and bowled, Cosette and Parneet). Also a shout out to Parneet who made her first catch, took a wicket and scored 5 runs.
The teams meet again this Saturday in the T20 comp.
Youth First XI – WON
Match report courtesy of Allen Hill
Sydenham 213
North West Youth 196
Sat 22 Nov saw the 1st XI take gain a very good win against Northwest 1st XI at Sydenham #3. It was nice to be back home and after losing the toss we were asked to bat first on a new pitch that looked good. Our openers laid a good platform with an excellent 55 run partnership. the second wicket partnership was also very good (50 runs) with Isaac Tutt batting well for 40 and Sam Johns a useful 35. At 104-2 we were well placed to accelerate through the later overs. Some useful contributions from Jaxson Moynihan (29), Al Derry (21 off 18), Harry Durdin (17 off 14) and Cadell Durdin (12no off 13) we were able to post 213 off our 50 overs. Although ideally, we were looking for more, we were confident that we could defend the score.
Isaac Tutt
Our bowling innings was a test of patience. The Northwest top order batted well with their opener Jasper Welford scoring a fine century. Our bowlers persevered chipping away with wickets at regular intervals. NW had an excellent 6th wicket partnership and were looking good after the final drinks break at 190 for 5. Our Sydenham boys had to try some things and threw the ball to part-time off spinner Sam Johns who immediately broke the partnership with a superb caught and bowled.
Louis Harris
Then Conway Andrews nicked out the NW century maker, and it was game on. In the next over Sam took two wickets to have NW 9 down. The first ball of the 43rd over Conway took the final wicket clean bowled. From 190-5 we dismissed NW for 196 with Conway Andrews taking 5/31 off 7.1 overs and Sam Johns 3/10 off 4. Henry Hood also bowled his usual high quality with 2/26 off 10 overs. What an amazing game of cricket – we were very pleased to get the win.
Youth 2nd XI – WON
Match report courtesy of Daniel Herd
St Thomas 205-9 (50 overs)
Sydenham 206-5 (42 overs)
The Sydenham Youth 2nd XI secured a strong five-wicket win away against the previously unbeaten St Thomas 2nd XI. The result means Sydenham leapfrogs St Thomas into second place in the First XI Bowl and is now well positioned to push for a place in the grade final.
Will Herd
Sam MacDonald won the toss and chose to bowl on a green pitch that was likely to offer something for the seamers early before improving for batting later in the day. Sydenham’s new-ball attack applied early pressure, though the St Thomas top order initially found conditions manageable at around four an over. Reuben Williamson (2/38 off 10) and Samuel Wild (4/27 off 10) removed both openers to keep Sydenham in the contest, before Finlay Hill (1/22 off 4) claimed the third wicket – thanks to an outstanding diving catch from Zach Nicholson. At 3/152 in the 32nd over, Sydenham was staring at a sizeable chase. However, excellent field placement and disciplined bowling began to choke St Thomas. Will Herd (1/31) delivered 10 overs on the trot to lock down one end, with strong second spells from Wild, Williamson and Bayley Gardner (1/34 off 9) tightening the squeeze. With pressure came wickets, as St Thomas lost 3 for 9 and eventually closed on 9/205 from their 50 overs – a smart, controlled bowling and fielding performance.
Lucky Lasiyal
The chase began shakily, with the top three falling early and Sydenham slipping to 3/26. Macdonald (an uncharacteristic 9 off 30) and Leif Kitto (an excellent 55) then went about stabilising the innings, blunting the home attack over the next 10 overs. When Macdonald fell, Sydenham had recovered to 4/68 in the 19th over. With a platform set, a run rate of only 4.5 an over required, and a good surface to bat on, Sydenham began to counterattack. Kitto was joined by Herd, and the pair put on a vital 89-run partnership at a run a ball. Kitto departed in the 34th over with the score at 157, leaving Lucky Lasiyal (6*) to partner Herd in completing the chase in the 42nd over. Herd’s innings – an outstanding 87* off 78 balls – was the decisive contribution, highlighted by a scooped boundary to bring up his fifty from just 38 deliveries.
Sydenham had to fight back from difficult positions in both innings, and the maturity shown across the group was a key feature of a season-defining performance.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/2025/cricket-express-1st-xi-bowl-one-day/game-centre/680f6289
Youth 3rd XI – LOST
No match report available
Youth Colts – WON
Match report courtesy of Callum Green
Sydenham 129 (39.2 overs)
St Thomas 57 (22.3 overs)
The Colts played St Thomas of Canterbury College Colts. Losing the toss, Sydenham were put into bat on Waltham Park No2. Jonty Rutherford and Braithan Davies opened the batting, but Davies was out in the 5th over. Next in was Zarnder O’Donnell, he went quickly in the 6th with the score on 10. In at 4 was Noah Green and he and Rutherford steadied the innings with some good running between the wickets and with Green increasing the run rate. After a 44 run partnership, Rutherford was out and Rupert Nielsen came to the crease. Nielsen rode his luck, but the run rate continued to increase until Green was out to a sharp chance at gully for 28 with the score at 4-79. In came captain Kahn Stanbury and he looked solid from the outset, whilst Nielsen batted with intensity, but still with elements of risk. Nielsen went with the score on 92 to a needless runout and in came Ruan Diederik’s, but he threw his wicket away quickly. Stanbury then played a rash shot to be bowled and Sydenham were struggling at 103 for 7. Some good lower order batting by James Gross and Reuben Peterson meant Sydenham got up to 129, but only lasted 39.2 overs.
Bowling, Sydenham started unfortunately, with Austen Grant pulling up with an injury after 4 balls. James Gross, opened up from the other end and straight away troubled the batsman, but it was Joe Wilke, coming on for Grant who snared the 1st wicket with an LBW in the 5th over. James Gross bowled outstandingly and his accuracy paid dividends with a bowled to get the 2nd in the 6th over and then Green snaring a good catch at mid off to grab the 3rd wicket in the 7th over with the total at 31. A procession ensued after, with accurate straight bowling, but some poor shot making by St Thomas’s. Ruan Diederik’s came on for Wilke in the 8th over and immediately made an impact, with 2 wickets in his 1st over. One that nipped back through the gate and then a full straight one that the batsman played across the line to. Meanwhile, Gross plied his trade at the other end with great line and length and was rewarded with another bowled. St Thomas’s went from 3-31 to 6-36 over the space of 2 overs. Green came on for Diederik’s and bowled accurately and in his 1st over got his first of 3 wickets. After a great 6 over spell, Gross was replaced by Peterson with his left arm off-spin. He bowled well and was rewarded with a wicket in the 21st over. Green then mopped up the tail in the 22nd.
A great bowling effort by Sydenham, after a batting effort that should have been far better. Pick of the bowlers was Gross with 3 for 10 off 6. Other mentions were Diederik’s with 2 for 7 off 3, Green’s 3 for 6 off 4.2 and Peterson’s 1-10 off 5.
Thanks to Marty Wilke and Jeremy Rutherford for scoring, Brad Davies for getting the boys started in the morning and all the other parents who support each week.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/2025/cricket-express-colts-one-day/game-centre/8528c17a
Youth Yr 10 – WON
Match report courtesy of Akash Patel
Sydenham 193-5 (40 overs)
North West Youth 192 (39.2)
Sydenham played North West Youth at Warren Park. Sydenham batted first with Om Patel making an unbeaten 69 and Captain Dylan 36 runs , the side finishing with a challenging total of 193 runs. Defending that total Angus Ferguson (4/28), Om Akash Patel (2/29) bowled very nicely in taking wickets and restricting runs backed by Dylan Tullet who did a great job in keeping the pressure on the batsmen behind the stumps.
In the end Sydenham dropped a few catches but Captain Dylan Tullett did very well in captaining the side and help us defend the runs. It got very tight – the 39th over was bowled by Om Akash Patel and he did very well in restricting them, taking one wicket and only giving away one run. We also got one run out on the last ball of Om’s over. In the last over, bowled by Angus Ferguson, they needed three runs to win. Angus did exceptionally well by only giving away one run on the first ball and getting a wicket on the second ball, getting them all out.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/2025/cricket-express-year-10/game-centre/1915b907
Youth Yr 9 – LOST
Match report courtesy of Mark Williams
Riccarton 262-9 (34.2 overs)
Sydenham 248-2 (35 overs)
Our skipper won the toss and chose to have a bowl. Overcast conditions promised movement to bowlers, once the vast quantity of duck excrement was removed from the pitch. Early on both openers were bowled by excellent deliveries, but in their grace period. Pressure built and an early wicket fell at 13. Bowling changes brought a loosening of lines and easier runs, as the scoreboard moved along quickly in a series of mini partnerships. 1 for 13 soon became 2 for 64, 3 for 86 and then 5 for 138. When the 6th wicket fell at 178 we had an opportunity to clean up the tail and chase a total below 200. However, our bowlers did not stick to the right lines, too often feeding batters a diet of short pitched deliveries which were consistently sent to the boundary. By the time the 7th wicket fell, the score was 238.
Extras remain a work on, a total of 78 is excessive and definitely something to aim at reducing. The wides tally alone was 50, not helped by several wayward balls going to the boundary. Our wicket keepers had a torrid day with inconsistent lines. Grace period wickets continue to be a source of frustration to the bowlers, today we got 7. Several of those batters went on to make decent scores. None of the bowlers will be sad to see that rule out the door soon. A positive today was taking some good catches. Nathaniel bowled an excellent spell of 3 for 10 off 4 overs at a time when other bowlers were going at 7,8 or 9 an over. This spell deserved more wickets.
A chase of 250 was in the offing, although this would swell to 262 after wicket adjustments. Our batters got off to a good start, with Guy and Thomas playing defensively to good balls and taking toll of loose deliveries. Assisted by extras they pushed the total past 100. Ultimately both had to retire having reached 50 balls. Guy ended on 53 off 50 an excellent innings. At this stage the chase was definitely under control. However, what followed was some indifferent shot selection and indecisive running, chewing up a lot of deliveries. A work on in the middle overs is moving the score along by pushing singles into gaps and manipulating the field. Very often we went for the big shot over the top, with batters losing shape and either missing completely, or not finding the gaps.
Wickets were never an issue in the run chase, when the score passed 205 only 2 had fallen. But the middle overs run rate just left too much to be done in the last 5 overs, and ultimately, we came up 14 runs short. This was a really engaging contest, unfortunately we came out on the wrong side of the result though.
Thanks, Pete, for scoring and Rob for helping with umpiring.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/2025/cricket-express-year-9-white/game-centre/7c5152bd
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