Christchurch Metro Cricket Association

Huge Month for Ground Renovations

With the season now having concluded, it’s worth acknowledging the significant effort that goes on behind the scenes to prepare our grounds for the return of cricket in six months. The Christchurch City Council and dedicated club grounds staff put in countless hours undertaking end-of-season renovations—carefully repairing worn pitches, reseeding playing surfaces, applying topsoil, and ensuring the right balance of nutrients through fertilisation. It’s detailed, often unseen work, but it lays the foundation for everything that follows.

Their commitment ensures that when players return next season, they are met with safe, high-quality surfaces that allow the game to be played at its best. Weather challenges, tight timeframes, and the physical nature of the work make this no small task. The pride these teams take in their grounds is evident year after year, and their efforts are a key reason our cricket environment continues to thrive.

Thanks to all for a great effort.

Match Officials Awards Evening

It's that time of the year where we recognise the oustanding achievements of our Match Officials and this was done at the 2026 Awards Evening on Friday night.

Congratulations to the winners;

Baxter Trophy: Kaushik Padmanaban (Most promising umpire)
Scorer’s trophy: Gail McGowan
Felton Trophy: Darren Thomason (Ffor biggest contribution on and off the field.
Wooden Spoon: Robert Hill
RW Conway Cup: David Henderson (Best Umpire as voted by Premier Captains)
Most Improved Cup: Kaushik Padmanaban (as voted by Premier Captains)

Certificates from NZ Cricket also recognised long service achievement for umpires and scorers, those in attendance were;

10 years - Kim Cotton
10 years - Gavin Fantastic
10 years - Mark Wood
10 years - Darren Thomason
10 years - David Henderson
20 years - Matthew Hill
30 years - Gail McGowan
40 years - Tony Feely
50 years - Tony Campbell

Petersen and Melhuish Shield

The Petersen Shield is awarded to the club who is the most consistent across all grades, with each Saturdays performances counting towards the end result.

This seasons winners, with strong performances across the grades were Burnside West/North West Women.

The Melhuish Shield is a historic Shield where clubs combine two teams at the start of the season, whose combined points are pitted against other combinations, with all results across the season counting towards the final result.

The winners this year with the OEM Audio Premiership and Championship teams from Burnside West.

Volunteer Awards

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the cricket community and each year Christchurch Metro Cricket invite nominations for our Volunteer Awards.

There are so many worthy candidates it is always a challenge for the judges to single out winners.

Thanks to Kelly Bodger, Community Manager of Canterbury Cricket for presenting the awards this year.

The winners were;

Souter Trophy for Groundsman of the Year – Graham (Gee) Walker – Denton Park, Hornby

Brian Adams Trophy which recognises a committee person who is in the early years of his/her work for their club - Ben Gill, Merivale Papanui (award accepted by Club Chairperson Mario Williams)

Peter Sharp Trophy for Club Administrator of the Year - Paul Thomas, Merivale Papanui

Ana Rouse Cup for Services to Women’s Cricket - Emma Norrish, Old Boys Collegians

Teams of the Year

Congratulations to the CMCA Teams of the Year, selected from the EV Power Premier Women's and OEM Audio Premier Men's grades, based on performances throughout the season.

Each of the players is presented with a commemorative plaque to recognise the achievement.

EV Power Premier Womens Team of the Year

Kate Anderson – Lancaster Park
Sarah Asmussen – Lancaster Park
Eloise Borcoski – North West
Sammy Borcoski – North West
Stella Cornelius – Sydenham
Tatiana Gibbs – Old Boys Collegians
Abigail Hotton – North West
Laura Hughes – Lancaster Park
Sophie Kelly – Lancaster Park
Kate Irwin – North West
Boadicea Lynch – Sydenham
Sally Phelps – Old Boys Collegians
Darcy-Rose Prasad – Sydenham

OEM Audio Premier Men's Team of the Year

Tom Agnew – Sydenham
Aarush Bhagwat – Sydenham
Philippe Boissevain – Heathcote
Scott Duggan – Lancaster Park
Mitch Gardner – Sydenham
Nick Gibb – Burnside West
Tim Hampton-Matehe – East Shirley
Matt Hay – Burnside West
Matthias Paltridge – St Albans
Ian Souness – St Albans
Alex Tait – Burnside West
Matt Tromp - Sydenham

CMCA Awards Night

The Christchurch Metro Cricket Awards Night was held tonight and over coming days we will be posting some of our award winners, starting with the prestigous Cricketers of the Year for Women and Men.

Kate Anderson from the Lancaster Park Cricket Club was the EV Power Women's Cricketer of the Year. She scored 868 runs, claimed 21 wickets and 11 catches for an outstanding season, especially given that she also had a steller season for the Canterbury Magicians, also scooping awards at both NZ Cricket and Canterbury Cricket awards nights.

The OEM Audio NZ Men's Cricketer of the Year was Matthew Tromp from the Sydenham Cricket Club. Matt was an overseas player with links to South Africa and the USA. He scored 918 runs, took 19 wickets and 15 catches.

Top efforts from both of these two players.

Cricket Express End of Season Sale.

The Cricket Express end of season Megasale has been extended until the end of May.

Plus, some fantastic new offers have now been added!

Shop online or stop in stores for some incredible deals!

https://www.cricketexpress.co.nz/

Or head into the store at 37 Mandeville Street, Riccarton

Two Fat Indians - City Centre Male Player of the Week

Huge thanks to Two Fat Indians for supporting our male Performances of the Week this week. Specialising the art form that is Indian Food, they are the best going around, no doubt. Tucked in behind the Riverside Market in Central Christchurch they are easy to find.

A huge congratulations to Ben Cochrane, who has absolutely stormed home to take out this week’s fan vote in dominant fashion! 💪🔥

With an overwhelming show of support, Ben’s performance clearly made a huge impact — a match-winning effort that had the crowd talking and the votes pouring in. 🏏💥

Plenty of strong performances across the round, but this one was never in doubt!

Well played, Ben — a standout effort and a well-deserved win! 👏

Here is a full list of winners

Gurpreet Bajwa - Riccarton
Sudharaka Arambepola - Halswell
Nikhil Yadav - LP=ancaster Park
Tharaka De Silva - Halswell
Scott Duggan - Lancaster Park
Trusharkumar Desai - Sydenham
Lochiel Philpot - Ohoka
Aniket Sharma - Hornby
Hrishab Devokta - Marist Harewood
Ajay Shrestha - Marist Harewood
Nilang Deshmukh - Marist Harewood
Rajesh Khatri - Southern Districts
Eddie Templeton - Richmond
Rory Hawes - Merivale Papanui
Jack O'Rourke - Heathcote
Vasu Patel - East Shirley
Andy Macgregor - Richmond
Scott Willoughby - Old Boys Collegians
Mike Pile - Ohoka
Ajmal Anwar - Marist Harewood
Ben Cochrane - Richmond

Joe's Garage Female Performance of the Week

Huge thanks to Joe's Garage for supporting our Female Cricket Performances of the Week this season.

Congratulations to Lucy Mason, who takes out this week’s vote in dominant fashion! 👏🔥

Not only was it another outstanding performance, but this marks Lucy’s THIRD Player of the Week win of the season – an incredible achievement and a true reflection of her consistency and impact at the crease. 💯

Well played, Lucy and we trust you will enjoy some tasty treats at Joe's Garage.

Well done once again to all of this seasons winners

Stella Cornelius - Sydenham
Lee-Ann Martin - North West
Abigail Jackson - Old Boys Collegians
Lucy Mason - Halswell
Mahi Gill - St Albans/Lancaster Park
Mckenna Chynoweth - Old Boys Collegians
Julia Manton - Sydenham
Tatiana Gibbs - Old Boys Collegians
Millah Rhodes - New Brighton
Sammy Borcoski - North West
Nellie Carlaw - Pleasant Point
Lily Hayston - Sydenham
Lucy Mason - Halswell
Millie Kinzett - Sydenham
Lulu Pringle - Old Boys Collegians
Tatiana Gibbs - Old Boys Collegians
Lucy Mason - Halswell

Youth Cricket Wrap

Huge congratulations to the St Andrew’s College 1st XI for taking out the Cricket Express 1st XI Championship Two-Day competition this term.

Their match against St Bedes College 1st XI was evenly poised overnight, but some fine bowling in the first session left St Andrew’s 90 to win, which they knocked off with ease. Although the Christchurch Boys HS 1st XI beat Christ’s College, they were unable to catch St Andrew’s on the ladder. The second day between St Thomas of Canterbury College 1st XI and Timaru Boys HS 1st XI was abandoned.

In the Cricket Express 1st XI Two-Day Cup the Christchurch Boys HS 2nd XI accounted for the North West 1st XI in their last round game to take the title, while the Shirley Boys HS 1st XI came home with some strong results to finish as runner-up. Those three, along with the St Andrew’s College 2nd XI will join the top six in the Cricket Express 1st XI One-Day Championship in Term 4.

In the Cricket Express 1st XI Bowl Declaration Final the Christchurch Boys HS 3rd XI beat the North West 2nd XI, in the Cricket Express 1st XI Plate Declaration Final the St Thomas of Canterbury Senior Selection beat the St Thomas of Canterbury College 2nd XI and in the Cricket Express Colts Declaration Final Shirley Boys HS had a one-wicket win against Selwyn/Banks Peninsula.

A huge shoutout to all our youth cricket coaches—your time, passion, and dedication are the heartbeat of our game. Week in, week out, you’re not just teaching skills, but building confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a genuine love for cricket in the next generation. From early mornings to late afternoons, wins and losses alike, your impact goes far beyond the boundary. Thank you for everything you do to create positive, lasting experiences for our young players—you truly make the game what it is.

We trust all players, coaches, volunteers and supporters will take a well-earned break for a few months, before we start the build up towards the second half of the season commencing in October.

Joe's Garage Female Performance of the Week

The votes have been counted, and this week’s winner is… Tatiana Gibbs! 🔥👏

A razor-thin victory proving every single vote counts! 💥

🚨 This is the LAST Player of the Week of the season! 🚨

Back your teammates for one final round of votes! 🌞🏏