The win was the club’s first in the top grade after winning promotion from the Metro Championship last season. Following the win they returned to their clubrooms in the evening for a dress-up party.
The theme for the team was anything British. However, as part of initiation to the club, the team’s imports sported somewhat skimpy dresses. The team were in great spirits and celebrations following the historic win didn’t finish until nearly 4am
Earlier in the day a drizzly start meant just two of the four premiership matches were able to be completed. Heathcote and St Albans were able to secure a full 10 points, while Burnside West University, East Christchurch Shirley, Old Boys Collegians and Lancaster Park all had to settle for five points for abandoned matches.
New boys Heathcote admit at the start of the day they would have been happy to settle for five points.
“We buggered off to a coffee shop, then went back and it still wasn’t decided so we went for another coffee,” said injured Heathcote bowler Ben Cochrane who instead opted for a pint due to not playing.
“Sydenham hung around the whole time and got the hessian [cover] out and kept on trying to dry the pitch.”
Play eventually got under way mid-afternoon and the match reduced to 22 overs a piece. Batting first Heathcote got off to a bright start through opener Matt House who scored a quick fire 31 from 20 deliveries. English all-rounder James Hunt also put together a handy 29 as Heathcote got through to 131/7.
Sydenham made a bright start in their chase and looked favourites at 88/3 in the 15th over. However, Nicolaj Damgaard and Jordan Horrell ripped through Sydenham’s middle order with three wickets each and struck enough of a blow to the run chase to
Sydenham 129/7 – giving Heathcote a four-run victory.
Elsewhere a 69-run stand between Amandeep Arora and Matt Laffey wasn’t enough to help Riccarton chase down St Albans total of 130.
In the Championship there were wins for Lancaster Park, Old Boys Collegians – who defeated a Marist Harewood side including Black Cap Matt Henry – and Burnside West University. Meanwhile, the match between Riccarton and Sumner was abandoned.
Premiership one-day cup results:
St Albans 130/10 (Dan Sharples 46, Tyler Lortan 40; Fraser Campbell 5/23, Mitch Ross 2/13) beat Riccarton 127/9 Amandeep Arora 51, Matt Laffey 43; James Tapper 2/14.
Heathcote 131/7 (Matt House 31, James Hunt 29; Tim Johnston 2/19, Chris Harris 2/20) beat Sydenham 127/9 (Tom McDonald 33, Ryan Wallace 24; Nicolaj Damgaard 3/14, Jordan Horrell 3/29).
Championship one-day results:
Lancaster Park 144/8 (Nathan Wingham 37, Cameron Tabb 29; Sam Flavell 2/8, William Southby 2/37) beat St Albans 119/10 (Tom Flavell 31, Ryan James 30; Nathan Wingham 4/22, Nathan Wood 3/7).
Old Boys Collegians 108/10 (Ben Brady 32, Harrison Cox; Matt Henry 4/10) beat Marist Harewood 64/10 (Callum Cameron 16; Harrison Cox 4/6, Mohit Marya 3/21).
Merivale Papanui 154/8 (Henry Winchester 40, Srirag Harish 35; Hunter Rowe 5/28, Will Kennedy 2/30) lost to Burnside West University 158/5 (Martinus Huyser 69, Ryan Cantell 28; Matthew Morgan 2/27).
Saturday fixtures:
Premiership one-day cup: Heathcote v Burnside West University, Heathcote Domain; East Christchurch Shirley v Old Boys Collegians, Burwood Park; Riccarton Park v Sydenham, Riccarton Domain ; St Albans v Lancaster Park, Hagley Park.
Championship one day: Burnside West University v Lancaster Park, Burnside Park; St Albans v Sumner, Hagley Park; Old Boys Collegians v Riccarton, Elmwood Park; Marist Harewood v Merivale Papanui, Redwood Park.
•All matches start at 10.30am.
