PREMIER MEN START T20 COMPETITION WITH TWO WINS – 29 NOVEMBER 2025
Sydenham’s Premier Men made an excellent start to their T20 campaign, winning both opening matches in hard-fought fashion. The first victory over OBC was built on a superb collective bowling effort led by Tom Agnew, while the second—against Lancaster Park—saw Ryan Wallace smash an unbeaten 78 before the home side sealed the win with an outstanding fielding effort. Meanwhile, for the Premier Women, Maddie Wright’s 5-26 couldn’t avoid a loss to North West Women at Burnside Park.
The Championship side followed their emphatic morning win over OBC with another strong batting effort, posting 184-7 in their second match, with Nathaneal Paltridge and skipper Tom McDonald prominent with the bat in both matches. Unfortunately, they were unable to defend the total, with Merivale Papanui chasing it down in the final over. Division 2 were edged out by just two wickets in their first match, but struggled in their second, going down heavily to Marist Harewood.
Afternoon results were harder to come by, with victories only for the Division 3 Tamils, Division 4 Royal Challengers (in the local derby against the Goats), and the Division 1 Women’s Red team, who defeated Sydenham Blue in their derby. Standout performances included Niranjan Mani’s 62 for the Tamils, Amirinder Singh’s unbeaten 77 and Trusharkumar Desai’s 5-12, including a hat-trick for the Royal Challengers, and a fighting 92 from Goat’s batter Jacob Koster. In the Masters grades, Anthony Wild’s superb 120 off 88 wasn’t enough for the Cardinals against Sumner, while Timothy Suddaby’s 75 was the highlight in Hospital’s loss to BWU.
The Youth 1st XI struggled with the bat in their match against Shirley Boys’ High, but there were strong results elsewhere, with wins for the 2nd XI, Year 10, and Year 9 sides. For the 2nd XI, a third consecutive half-century from Lief Kito (67) and an impressive 5-31 from Reuben Williamson helped secure victory over Riccarton—sending the team through to next week’s grade final. In the Year 10s, Dylan Tullett’s 88 steered his side past CBHS, while William Gumbley’s 62 was pivotal in the Year 9 win. In the Colts match, Kahn Stanbury’s unbeaten 48 was the lone highlight in an otherwise tough outing.
We thank Ash Hart’s Hartland Images for many of the photos in this publication.
Premier Men
OBC 94-9 (20 overs)
Sydenham 96-5 (17.4 overs)
Sydenham opened their T20 campaign at home against OBC, a match that couldn’t have started better for the hosts. However, the pre-start didn’t go well for Sydenham when opening batsman Michael Robbo injured himself in the warm-up – this left the side a top-order batsman short, which fortunately, it didn’t present a problem the way the match panned out.
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl on a drier-than-usual surface, Sydenham struck immediately. Mitch Gardner removed Willoughby with the first ball of the innings, and he and Tom Agnew combined superbly to take a wicket in each of the first six overs. OBC were reeling at 26-6, and when the score slipped to 33-7, a rapid finish looked inevitable.
Archie Goodrick
Although OBC lost wickets whenever they threatened to rebuild, a determined last-wicket stand lifted them from 77-9 to 94-9, giving their bowlers at least a target to defend—though it never looked likely to be enough.
OBC needed early breakthroughs, but Sydenham’s openers denied them any momentum. Matt Tromp and Premier debutant Dax Barbaria—fresh off a century for the 2nd’s the previous week—launched the chase with intent, racing to 35 off the first three overs. Tromp was dismissed for 20 off 13, and Babaria followed soon after for 20 off 11, but at 46-2 after five overs, Sydenham were well in control.
Matt Tromp & Dax Babaria
To OBC’s credit, they fought hard, claiming three more wickets and tightening up their lines to create some late-innings tension. But the early platform ensured Sydenham was never under any real run-rate pressure. A couple of dropped catches didn’t help OBC’s cause either, and Tom Agnew—one of the beneficiaries—finished the job in style, cracking three boundaries in the 18th over to seal a comfortable victory at 96-5.
Full scoreboard & video highlights: https://live.nvplay.com/nz?tab=m_scorecard#m87ef60b2-81a7-4fbe-ac05-7a755114ed32
Sydenham 158-4 (20 overs)
Lancaster Park 151 (20 overs)
There was no better illustration of the old adage “catches and fielding win matches” than Sydenham’s afternoon clash with Lancaster Park. Park arrived at Sydenham Park on the back of a first-round win over East Shirley, lost the toss, and were sent into the field.
With Robbo sidelined by injury, Akshan Gulati—fresh from an unbeaten 53 in the Championship opener on Sydenham 2—returned to the first team. Sydenham openers Matt Tromp and Dax Barbaria again laid a strong platform, scoring freely at around sevens and putting on 57 for the first wicket. Dax was the first to go for 27 off 29, and Matt followed an over later for 30 off 27, leaving Sydenham well placed at 65-2 in the ninth over.
Ryan Wallace
A brief wobble saw Aarush Bhagwat depart first ball, but Ryan Wallace restored momentum. In partnership with Jackson Hemingway, he controlled the middle overs and looked set to lift Sydenham to a 120 – 130 total. That estimate changed dramatically in the final two overs: Ryan took 14 from the 19th, then launched four sixes in a 26-run final over. The superb late surge had lifted Sydenham to an imposing 158-4.
Lancaster Park’s response began with a statement of its own. Opener Pryde blasted 26 from the first over—mirroring Ryan’s late hitting—and suddenly it was game on. Archie Goodrick removed Pryde in the third over for a blistering 29 off 11, and Jackson Hemingway struck at 47-2 in the sixth. But a composed 59-run third-wicket stand swung the momentum Park’s way, taking them to 107-4 with six overs remaining.
Mitch Gardner
The turning point came through a brilliant fielding from the young Sydenham side. Mitch Gardner dismissed the dangerous Duggan thanks to a superb catch from Cullen Crowe—one of three outstanding grabs from him in the innings—before Mitch himself produced a sharp run-out off his own bowling to remove Michael Davidson, the architect of Park’s morning victory.
From there, the tide fully shifted. Jackson Hemingway delivered a superb four-over spell of 3–25, the fielding unit lifted with boundary saves, top catches and another run-out, pressure began to tell. Even so, Park remained in the contest at 144-6 with two overs left, needing just 14 more. Jackson then bowled a defining 19th over, conceding only four and taking two vital wickets.
With 10 to defend, Mitch Gardner closed it out expertly. He allowed only two runs before the final ball, which produced Cullen Crowe’s third spectacular catch to end the innings at 151 all out—securing a hard-fought seven-run win built on tight bowling and exceptional fielding from all the team, led by the likes of Cullen, Matt Tromp and Mitch Gardner.
Sydenham’s next match is this Thursday at 5:30pm, with a home fixture against St Albans. In the meantime, we wish our Canterbury U19 representatives, Cullen Crowe and Makenzie Thomson, all the best for the U19 tournament at Lincoln this week.
A final thanks to umpires Darren Thomason and Shreyas Debur for officiating both matches.
Full scoreboard & video highlights: https://live.nvplay.com/nz?tab=m_scorecard#m9fc53c45-591e-463b-8fd9-202de2ffb419
Birdwood Café Premier Women
Match report courtesy of Linda Pettigrew
North West Women 165-9 (40 overs)
Sydenham 159-7 (40 overs)
The start of the 40-overs showcases new talent from Morgan Smith and Lily Hayston returning for their second match and debuts from Elise Dill-Russel and Avery Carrel who is returning to cricket after 4 years.
Boadicea Lynch
Bowling first, the first four fast bowlers fought hard but were unable to take any wickets and the team had to be patient. The switch to the spin duo of Maddie Wright and Shizuka Miyaji proved effective, as they began to restrict NW runs and forced the batsmen to make mistakes under pressure. Maddie Wright was particularly impressive, taking 5 wickets (off her 8overs) and also got a great run-out. The field was full of energy from start to finish, and the young players in particular were very impressive. Debutant Elise Dill-Russell’s wicket and catch today will be a testament to her future success. With everyone’s hard work, we managed to restrict North West to 165 runs.
Elsie Dill-Russell
Chasing Sydenham, Hannah Kidd was the key player in the innings, hitting boundaries and increasing the score. The middle-order batsmen also made some aggressive runs, but unfortunately the team lost by 6 runs. Although we lost in a very close match, it was a game that will help us keep moving forward and learn a lot too.
Championship
Sydenham 175-7 (20 overs)
OBC 154-9 (20 overs)
The Championship side opened their T20 campaign with a convincing 22-run win over OBC on Sydenham 2. After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Sydenham made an excellent start through openers Nathaneal Paltridge and Akshan Gulati, who set the tone with a 62-run stand inside the first eight overs. Momentum briefly stalled when Nate and new batter Lucky Singh fell from consecutive deliveries, but the scoring quickly regained pace.
Nathaneal Paltridge
There was one act of great sportsmanship from the OBC team associated with Nate’s dismissal. Just prior to his ultimate dismissal, he had been given out LBW by his own player umpire, despite having clearly hit the ball. As he walked off, and the OBC guys discussed it, they called him back to the crease, an action that some other clubs and captains may not have been so inclined to make.
Akshan Gulati
Akshan anchored the innings superbly, while Tom McDonald injected real intent with an aggressive 42 off 31 balls, ensuring Sydenham maintained a good run rate. At 162-2 with two overs remaining, a late push for extra runs brought a flurry of wickets—five in total—but the platform had already been laid. Sydenham closed at a competitive 175-7, with Akshan finishing unbeaten on 53 from 45 balls.
OBC began their chase positively despite the early loss of a wicket at 12. Opener Trillo kept them well in contention with an impressive 45 off 28, and for much of the innings OBC stayed within reach of the required rate. However, regular wickets prevented them from building the decisive partnership they needed. With two overs remaining, they still required 38 and were eight down, leaving too much to do. They eventually finished on 154-9, falling 22 runs short. For Sydenham, the best of the bowling came from Akshan Gulati’s leg spinners with 3/17 and Eliyas Verghese with 2/17, with the rest of the bowlers each taking a wicket.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/cmca-adult-summer-202526/mens-championship/game-centre/793d956f
Sydenham 184-7 (20 overs)
Merivale Papanui 187-3 (19.3 overs)
The side’s second match of the afternoon produced an even stronger batting display as they faced Merivale Papanui on Sydenham 2. After winning the toss, Sydenham chose to bat on a wicket that was playing true, and the batting unit took full advantage. Nathaneal Paltridge continued his excellent form with a rapid 45 off 22 balls, while Lucky Singh matched him with an equally impressive 45 off 29. Tom McDonald again contributed solidly with 38 off 33, and there were valuable cameos throughout the innings. Shevon Perera added 20 from 15 before being run out, and Josh Wedlake provided late acceleration with a powerful unbeaten 22 from just nine deliveries. Sydenham closed with a strong total of 184-7.
Tom McDonald
It was certainly a challenging target—though Merivale Papanui knew just as well that the wicket was flat and the boundaries inviting. They began confidently, and although Udi Upadhyay struck twice to reduce them to 62-2, the visitors remained comfortably on pace with the required run rate.
Udi Upadhyay
With the Champs’ bowling attack relying more heavily on all-rounders than ideal, pressure mounted as Merivale Papanui increased their scoring rate. By the closing stages they were scoring freely, and with three overs remaining at 154-3, the match had swung decisively well earlier. The visitors coasted home in the final over, finishing on 189-3 to deservedly claim the win.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/cmca-adult-summer-202526/mens-championship/game-centre/5d951ae4
Division 2
Match report courtesy of Todd Ward
Sydenham 117 (17.5 overs)
BWU 118-8 (17 overs)
The first T20 of the season against Burnside at Sydenham Park started with a bang as Freddie Windsor hit two massive straight 6’s in the first over against Burnside. The momentum continued from there with Tanhirdaypal Pannu also joining in on the six hitting with a straight one of his own to get Sydenham to 27 for none after 3 overs. They faltered a little after another 3 overs, losing 2 wickets and only putting on 17 runs. However, Freddie was still striking the ball well and made his way to a solid 43 from 23 before becoming the 4th wicket to fall. A small rebuild began with a nice partnership between Noah Jefferson (15 from 17) and Cameron Spriggs (15 from 18 ) of 28 unfortunately being broken by some miscommunication while running between the wickets. The side was still in a good position at 95 for 5 after 12 overs; however, it lacked another decent partnership and was bowled out in the 18th over for 117.
Freddie Winsor
The reply with the ball started in bleak fashion with 16 runs being taken from the first over. However, the bowlers recovered well with Isaiah Prasad’s (2 for 30 off 4) first over bringing about the first wicket and Ivon Bobby (1 for 26 off 2.5) striking in the next over to give some momentum. Ryan Lightfoot then proceeded to deliver an incredible over, which saw him take 2 wickets and concede 6 runs, with the first 2 legal deliveries of his over, with the other 6 deliveries all being wides. Once that over finally came to a close Burnside were starting to look a little shaky at 49 for 4 after 5 overs. Burnside proceeded to fight back and put on 29 for the next wicket before a brilliant piece of deception from Ajith Shetty brought about a timely runout. At this stage, Todd Ward (0 for 19 off 4) and Tanhirdaypal Pannu (2 for 15 off 4) were tightening the screws with good, accurate bowling, causing 2 more wickets to fall, courtesy of a couple of good outfield catches from Ben Mason, leaving Burnside stuttering at 89 for 7 after 12.
Unfortunately, with plenty of overs left, the Burnside batters were able to keep their cool and bide their time as they chipped away at the remaining 39 runs required, and Sydenham weren’t able to get the next breakthrough until only 8 runs were required. Burnside chased down the 118 runs with 3 overs and 2 wickets remaining.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/mens-division-2-red/game-centre/78fcbd9d
Sydenham 129-6 (20 overs)
Marist Harewood 135-1 (12.1 overs)
Unfortunately, the second game against Marist-Harewood at St James Park was to be disadvantaged from the beginning with a team reshuffle, leaving the side with only 10 players. Sydenham batted first again, but unlike at Sydenham Park, this pitch was a minefield, resulting in tough early conditions that saw us slug to 24 for none after 6. Freddie made 18 from 26 before being dismissed, and Ajith came in and struck beautifully to make 26 from 15 alongside Noah, who made another start of 23 off 24 before he was caught, leaving us at 84 for 4 after 15. Todd Ward and Isaiah Prasad then proceeded to put on a quick 30 runs together, with Todd hitting three consecutive boundaries to start the 17th over. The innings finished with a competitive 129 for 6, and Todd was unbeaten on 37 from 23.
What followed was a very forgettable bowling performance with just the one wicket being taken and some fairly average bowling. Sydenham struggled to bowl to its plans and put the ball where desired. It was not helped, of course, by the missing fielder and a couple of questionable umpiring decisions. Marist-Harewood chased down the 130 required in just 12 overs, only one down. The disappointment of the second game should not overshadow the good cricket played earlier in the day. With a full team and a little more discipline, the side’s not far from playing some really good T20 cricket.
Division 3 Tamils XI – WON
Match report courtesy of Mohanasundaram Kumar
Sydenham 224 (39.5 overs)
Merivale Papanui 208 (36.5 overs)
In scenes echoing the tension of their previous two outings, the Sydenham Division 3 Tamil XI pulled off yet another breathtaking victory on Saturday, defeating their opponents by 16 runs to secure their third consecutive close win and strengthen their grip on the top of the table.
Batting first, Tamil XI produced an innings built on grit and determination. Mohanasundaram Kumar(Monty) ignited the start with a blazing 44 off 40 balls, striking early boundaries and giving his team early momentum. Chidambaram Palaniappan followed with a patient 18, stabilising the innings during a tight spell of bowling. But it was Niranjan Mani who delivered the innings of the day. Walking in during a tricky phase, he played with remarkable composure to craft 62 off 78 balls, rebuilding the innings and guiding Tamil XI through a wobble in the middle overs. A late burst from Arunravi Ravindranathan, who added a crucial 20 off 18 balls, helped push the total to a competitive 224 all out, every run proving vital in what would become a tense finish.
Rajendran Parthipan
Defending 224, Tamil XI faced a determined opposition that kept the chase alive deep into the innings. Momentum swung repeatedly, but the Tamil bowlers stood tall under pressure. Arunravi struck with two crucial wickets, breaking partnerships and halting the opposition’s advances. Niranjan, backing up his batting heroics, delivered eight overs of tight, disciplined bowling for just 37 runs, choking the chase at key moments. Vignesh Balan applied further pressure with controlled spells, forcing errors as the game tightened. Despite wides gifting the opposition lifelines, Tamil XI refused to lose their nerve. In a gripping final phase, with the fielders closing in and tension at its peak, the bowlers held their composure to dismiss the opposition for 208, clinching a hard-fought victory.
Ram Muthukumar
Three matches. Three tight finishes. Three wins. The Tamil XI are establishing themselves as the division’s most resilient unit — a team that not only rises to the pressure but seems to welcome it. With another dramatic win under their belts, they remain firmly on top of the table and increasingly look like the team to beat this season. POM – Niranjan Mani – For his fantastic batting display and good spell with a wicket the match defined by pressure and narrow margins, Niranjan Mani stood head and shoulders above the rest with a calm, commanding all-round performance that proved decisive in Tamil XI’s third consecutive nail-biting victory.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/mens-division-3/game-centre/935dba76
Division 4 Royal Challengers – WON
Division 4 Goats – LOST
Match report courtesy of Dan Laughton
Sydenham 159 (36.4 overs)
Royal Challengers 162-6 (25 overs)
The Sydenham Goats took on the Sydenham Royal Challengers in a derby match at Barrington Park. Due to the Goats’ recent batting form and a decent-looking pitch, JB was quick to call for the lads to get the pads on.
Regular openers Joe and Tony built a solid foundation before an uncharacteristic march down the wicket in frustration by Joe led to the first loss at 35-1. Some quality bowling and a top-notch HAT-TRICK by TK, and the goats were in trouble at 4-42. A few cameos along the way and a good fight back, headlined by Ollie 47(50) and George 25(35), the Goats were bowled out for 159 in the 37th over.
The Goats took the field confident they could defend 159. As the wind picked up and changed direction, it became increasingly challenging to bowl from the Barrington mall end. After opening the bowling with two overs into the wind, Chris changed ends and bowled out for 3-24. Geo bowled very well into the wind with little reward 1- 25. The rest of our bowlers created chances but struggled from that end. Royal Challenger’s Arminder started slow batting at 5, but found his form and struck the ball well, including some big 6’s for an unbeaten 81(66), taking the game away from the goats.
In the end, the Sydenham Royal challengers won in the 33rd over with three wickets remaining.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/mens-division-4/game-centre/74281976
Division 5 All-Stars – LOST
Match report courtesy of Abe Atherton
Ohoka 204-8 (40 overs)
Sydenham 150-9 (33 overs)
The Division 5 Allstars travelled to the Mandeville Sports Centre to take on the undefeated Ohoka side. Ohoka won the toss and elected to bat first, immediately setting a positive tone by striking the ball cleanly and making the most of a rapid outfield. With the Allstars one player short, gaps in the field were hard to cover, with Ohoka batting the full 360 degrees.
Despite the challenge, the Allstars’ bowlers maintained a tight line and length throughout. However, the Ohoka batters were able to find at least one boundary most overs, keeping the scoreboard ticking. They valued their wickets and offered very few chances in the field. Dupinder Saroya’s off-spin was particularly effective, helping slow the run rate during the middle overs. Catches were taken by Jacob Koster, Dev Gajjar, and Dupinder Saroya. Ohoka finished on a strong 204/8 from their 40 overs. The bowling unit was led well by Mark Flowerday (3/41), supported by Dev Gajjar (2/17), Dupinder Saroya (1/25), A. Atherton (1/31), and J. Ward (1/32).
Jacob Koster
The Allstars began their chase brightly, with Jaedyn Ward and Jacob Koster finding early boundaries. Koster was in sublime touch, striking powerful fours and sixes as he dominated the scoring. While wickets fell around him, he remained composed, forming an excellent 74-run partnership with Chase Barnsley, who contributed a valuable 26 (54) and provided the support Koster needed at the other end.
Unlike Ohoka, the Allstars offered opportunities from the bat, and Ohoka capitalised on them. As partners continued to fall, Koster eventually succumbed for a superb 92 from 81 deliveries. The Allstars were bowled out for 150 in the 33rd over, finishing 54 runs short.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/mens-division-5/game-centre/c5cd73ac
T20 Cavaliers Cardinals – LOST
Match report courtesy of Jamie Livingstone
Sydenham 145 (20 overs)
Hornby 146-5 (19.2 overs)
Sydenham Cardinals played Hornby Hawks on Denton Park 2. The Cardinals arrived at Denton Park on a hot, windy afternoon, forced to haul gear from all corners of Hornby after the carpark quickly filled up. The Cardinals were not sure what they had turned up to with the boundary from an adjacent game cutting through the middle of the pitch and two lamp posts positioned inside the boundary at one end.
Captain James Stokes lost the toss, and the Cardinals were sent in to bat. Jeremy Ensor and Cam Rennell opened the innings. After Jeremy’s dismissal, Nick Smithson came to the crease. Nick wasn’t feeling too flash from a big one the night before, so his strategy was to try and retire early. Unfortunately, this strategy didn’t pay off as Nick lofted one to long off for a golden duck before spending the rest of the innings asleep on the sidelines. That left Luke Woolf to face the hat-trick ball. Under pressure, Luke responded brilliantly, cracking a four through the covers. Solid contributions through the middle order saw the Cardinals finish on 145 runs. The standout batters were Cam (40), Kieran Williams (37*), and Luke (29).
When the Cardinals took the field, it was a familiar story from recent weeks—wickets were hard to come by. Nick Smithson bowled well nearly claiming a hat-trick and finishing with figures of 2 for 33 from his four overs. The Cardinals kept things tight for most of the match, with Hornby needing a run a ball over the last five overs. Unfortunately, Hornby managed a couple of big overs late in the chase. Two late wickets from James Stokes and Manny Robert kept the contest alive into the final over, but Hornby crossed the line with four balls to spare.
It was another frustrating loss for the Cardinals, who know they’re capable of much better. They’ll look to turn things around next Saturday when they play for the annual James Gallagher Memorial Trophy against the Marist Harewood Gerihatricks.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/cavaliers-section-red-t20/game-centre/2cb21816
T20 Gujarat Kings – LOST
Match report courtesy of Yash Patel
Marist Harewood 166-7 (20 overs)
Sydenham 155-4 (20 overs)
Sydenham T20 Gujarat Kings played Marist Harewood at Walther Park. In a hard-fought T20 clash, Sydenham Gujarat Kings put up a strong performance but fell just short, finishing at 155-4 in reply to Marist Harewood’s 166-7. Batting Performance (Gujarat Kings)
- Ankit Patel– 28 (29), steadying the innings with 4 boundaries
- Dhananjay Trivedi– 44 (29), a brilliant attacking knock
- Arya Baxi– 25* (20), crucial late runs
- Deep Patel– 26* (16), providing a powerful finish with 2 fours and 2 sixes
The Kings chased bravely, with Dhananjay’s explosive Captain knock keeping them in the hunt, supported well by Arya and Deep’s unbeaten partnership near the end. A strong showing with the ball saw the Gujarat Kings bowlers pick up key wickets: Yash Patel – 3 Wickets, Dhaval – 3 Wickets and Arya – 1 Wicket. The bowlers kept the pressure on throughout, with Yash and Dhaval leading the attack with three wickets each.
Despite a spirited chase and standout performances with both bat and ball, the Kings fell just 11 runs short. A solid all-round effort and plenty of positives to take forward into the next match.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/cavaliers-section-black-t20/game-centre/125777ff
Masters Cardinals – LOST
Match report courtesy of Ammar Yousef
Sumner 331-3 (40 overs)
Sydenham 265-7 (40 overs)
A well-presented pitch at St Leonard’s Square welcomed both teams on a warm Saturday afternoon.
The aggressive Vann, along with Thompson, got the home side off to a flyer – putting on 90 runs in 11 overs before Vann was dismissed for 53 off only 28 balls. Thompson was dismissed shortly after for a steady 34. Costeleo and Russell started cautiously but picked up the pace after drinks (2-132). Russell fell just 2 short of his 50 (41 balls). Beveridge joined Costeleo, and with plenty of batting in the shed, took to the Cardinals attack. Costeleo brought up a much-deserved 100 in the 39th over – apparently the last time he managed this feat was as a 13-year-old! Beveridge was left 62 not out off just 33 balls. At the conclusion of 40 overs Sumner had amassed 331-3. Of the Cardinal’s bowlers Paul Smith was the most economical with 8 overs 0-45.
Chasing down 332 was always a possibility on such a good wicket and quick outfield. From the outset, Wild showed good intent, hitting powerfully down the ground. McKay fell early – trapped in front by Nuttall for 5. This brought Hannan to the crease. The scoring momentum continued. Hannan fell for 14 – another Nuttall victim. Both Walker (3) and O’Connell (2) fell cheaply to the leg spin of Beveridge. The Cardinals in trouble at 4-97 after 17 overs. However, the Cardinal were still a chance with Wild still at the crease. Wild continued on his aggressive way, well supported by Chandran. The put on 117 for the 5th wicket in good time – this included Wild’s magnificent century off just 72 balls. Wild was finally our for 120 (88 balls) in the 33rd over and Chandran for 55 (65 balls) shortly after. The required run-rate finally got the better of the Cardinals – falling short by 67 runs – 265-7, a score the Cardinals would have been happy with should they have batted first.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/joes-garage-masters/game-centre/573825c5
Masters Hospital – LOST
Match report courtesy of Bruce Day
Sydenham 185-8 (40 overs)
BWU 186-3 (35.5 overs)
Hospital hosted Burnside West Robbies team at Centennial Park number 1, a greenish looking wicket with a fast outfield. Hospital won the toss and without all our pace bowling attack decided to bat.
Got off to a good start with Tim Suddaby’s young fellow Liam filling in for us, deciding to take to the bowling with a quick 42, including four 6’s, this allowed Tim to settle in for a long innings, finishing on 75 in the 35th over. We finished 185 for 8, which was a bit disappointing after the start we got. Bryan Bunz was the only other score of note with 20.
Defending 186 we got off to a good start with Jim Simpson getting a wicket in his first over. Unfortunately, he had to retire from the game after getting his hand in front of a ball that was smashed back at him from Joe Smith in his 2nd over, thus leaving our depleted bowling attack even thinner and one short in the field with our popgun attack. John Hampton soon got another wicket at 27, and Matt Gilling one at 72, that was the last one as McFedries and Cooper settled in to for an unbeaten partnership scoring the winning runs in the 34th over, with a couple of very big overs at the end after we had tried nine bowlers.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/summer-202526/joes-garage-masters/game-centre/9b3d2ac3
Women’s Division 1 Red – WON
Women’s Division 1 Blue– LOST
Match report courtesy of Linda Pettigrew
Sydenham Blue 1094-6 (20 over)
Sydenham Red 106-3 (16.4 overs)
TBA
Youth First XI –LOST
Match report courtesy of Allen Hill
Sydenham 112 (39.2 overs)
Shirley Boys HS 116-4 (29.2 overs)
Saturday was the last game of 2025 for our youth 1st XI against Shirley Boys High School. Having beaten them twice in Term 1, our expectations were high for this game. Unfortunately, we lost the toss for the 3rd week in a row and were asked to bat again on a Clare Park pitch that had considerable variable bounce. Shirley BHS bowled well to make the most of the conditions to have us on the back foot with the loss of early wickets. Our middle order worked hard but we struggled to build partnerships. Batting at 9 in his last game for the 1st XI Henry Hood top scored with a very good 25 off 66 balls. He was supported by Cadell Durdin (15 off 27), Louis Harris (7 of 23) , and Quinn Helms (7 not out off 18). In the end we were bowled out for 112.
Given the pitch, we knew we were in with a chance if we bowled well. Shirley BHS openers were patience before we broke through with a fine runout from Cadell Durdin and Al Derry. The very next ball Bayley Gardner, making his debut for the 1st XI, induced a false stroke to have the #3 caught behind. Bayley made a pleasing start in 1st XI cricket with 1 15 off 7 overs. Conway Andrews also took two wickets to continue his fine bowling form. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take enough quick wickets to exert pressure and Shirley BHS chased down the runs in the 30th over 4 wickets down.
This was the last game in the youth 1st XI for a large group of Yr13 players who will now be moving to mens cricket. This group have left a fine legacy with the club, getting our 1st XI into the Championship Grade for the first time in 2024 and following that up this term. A huge thank you for such a positive contribution to the club.
All the best to our departing Yr 13s:
- Conway Andrews
- Al Derry
- Cadell Durdin
- Potiki Hamilton Morrison
- Henry Hood
- Sam Johns
- Jaxson Moynihan
- Isaac Tutt
I would also like to thank Paul Durdin for his support of the 1st XI and work as convenor of the youth club – great work. Thanks also to throwdown extraordinaire, Mike Moynihan, and all the parents for their amazing support of the team. You can be immensely proud of your boys as they are fine young men with bright futures.
Youth 2nd XI – WON
Match report courtesy of Daniel Herd
Sydenham 183 (40.1 overs)
Riccarton 124-5 (30.2 overs)
Sydenham Youth 2nd XI locked in their place in next week’s grade final with a 58-run win over Riccarton 1st XI at Riccarton High School.
Sent in to bat on a lively surface, Sydenham had to work through a turbulent start, losing three early wickets before Leif Kitto took control of the innings. Kitto played the defining knock of the match, compiling an excellent 67 off 81 balls, mixing composure with nine well-timed boundaries – it was his third consecutive 50. Finlay Hill contributed a steady 19 at the top. William Herd (26 off 22 balls) and Samuel Wild (14 off 10) provided some middle order grunt, and Zach Nicholson (10*) played a crucial role at the death supporting Kitto. Sydenham reached a competitive 183 from 40.1 overs.
With runs on the board, and knowing they needed to roll Riccarton for 146 on less to secure a bonus point, Sydenham’s bowlers delivered a strong collective display. Reuben Williamson was sensational on his way to 5/31 from 9.2 overs, including closing out the match with the first two balls of his 10th over. This means he is on a hat-trick entering next week’s final. Nicholson backed up his batting with the ball, taking 3/27. Wild was again key, finishing with 2/19 from 5. Lucky Lasiyal was the pick of the fielders, nabbing two catches. Riccarton were dismissed for 125 in 30.2 overs.
The day also marked the final youth match for Thomas Wedlake, who has been a massive part of the 2nd XI for the last two years – and we’ll be farewelling other great young cricketers next week.
The Yr13 leavers – Lucky Lasiyal, Yahya Shasawar, Leif Kitto & Sam Macdonald
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/2025/cricket-express-1st-xi-bowl-one-day/game-centre/c7b5079f
Youth 3rd XI – LOST
Match report courtesy of Dayle Kinzett
Sydenham 114 (36.2 overs)
St Bedes 115-3 (16.2 overs)
Sydenham played St Bedes College 3rds @ St Bedes No.5 which is an artificial wicket. We won the toss and chose to bat first. We made a good solid start with the bat thanks to a reliable Eli Helms (26 off 86 balls), and Utkarsh Singh (16 off 27 balls), to be 2-48 once Utkarsh was dismissed. Eli was involved in another good partnership with Daniel Barclay (15 off 37balls) and Neil Thakkar (14 off 30 balls), to be 3-109, before Eli was dismissed. From there though the innings capitulated, losing 7 wickets for just 5 runs, to be dismissed for a well under par 114.
After the innings break, we started either too short or too full with the ball, with St Bedes racing through to 57 in the first 6 overs before we picked up a wicket, Callum Walsh ( 1-17 from 2overs). Neil Thakkar (1-5 off 4.2 overs) and Eli Helms (1-18 from 3overs) were the pick of the bowlers before St Bedes comfortably reached the total 3 wickets down in the 16th over.
Youth Colts – LOST
Match report courtesy of Callum Green
St Andrews 313-4 (50 overs)
Sydenham 117 (32.4 overs)
Benji Williams
Unfortunately, Sydenham’s batting never got going with regular wickets falling. Ruan Diederiks put up a brief fight with 17, but again it was our captain Kahn Stanbury who fought hard for a well deserved 48 not out. In the end we were bowled out for 117.
Will Johns
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/2025/cricket-express-colts-one-day/game-centre/c6d3df79
Youth Yr 10 – WON
Match report courtesy of Akash Patel
Sydenham 222-9 (40 overs)
CBHS 178 (34 overs)
Sydenham played CBHS Year 10 Weka, won the toss and selected to bat first. The match was held at artificial pitch 3a at CBHS home ground. We had a good start and a good partnership of 57 runs between Om Patel and Jay Thakar. After the first wicket falls, Jay Thakar and Dylan Tullett managed to get a great partnership. The batting highlights for the match was captain Dylan Tullett who took responsibility and contributed greatly by scoring 88 runs of 70 balls, secondly Jay Thakar made 35 runs and Christopher Skinner scored 19 runs not out. This led us to a great total target of 222. The best thing is that we managed to play out the 40 overs.
In bowling our bowlers managed to restrict them to only 178. Bowling was great, Om Patel took 3 wickets and Captain Dylan Tullett took 2 wickets. Kavisha, Benny, and Angus also did great in bowling taking 1 wicket each. This week’s fielding improved a lot since last week. Om Patel took 2 stunning catches, Dylan Tullett, Kaveesha Geeth and Luke Griffith all took 1 great catch each, along with a substitute fielder, kindly given by CBHS Weka who took one catch for us. Our ground fielding was also great as we did very well to stop runs in the field. I’d like to add that one of their batsman did great batting, Liam O’Callaghan made 85 runs and it was great to watch.
Full scoreboard: https://www.playhq.com/new-zealand-cricket/org/christchurch-metro-cricket-associationcjca/2025/cricket-express-year-10/game-centre/6b295fbf
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