A message from our President...

Just a reminder to all players. We hold our standards on and off the field very high. Please maintain or uplift our standards and your code of conduct on and off the field and ensure we dont get involved in any discipline issues. Metro has recently dealt with a few cases re violence and dissent and players have received lengthy bans. Cricket is a gentlemans game and I know we are all MP Gentlemen. Play hard, play fair and play with dignity.

Mario Williams

Chairman's cup

After a good win last weekend, MPCC will play a semi final match vs St Albans this Sunday 30th November at home on Edgar Mac, 12pm start.  Come on down and support the lads, bar will be open and it should be a great day of cricket.

Thanks to our sponsors

A huge thank you to our club and team sponsors for your support this year: Sporting Edge, The Brewers, BBS Timbers, Bar 185, Manetain Building Inspections, Lewis Excavator Hire &  Paav Tiling.  We also acknowledge the support received from grants from Pub Charity, NZ Community Trust, Kiwi Gaming and the Lion Foundation.

Your generous help makes a massive difference to the cricketing experience we can provide to our junior and adult members this season.

Match Reports from Saturday 22nd November

MP Sporting Edge Championship vs Burnside West @ EM 1

(MP 122/10 & 156/5-d, BWU 124/10 & 156/4 - Loss)

A disappointing result punctuated with impressive contributions from the youngsters:

Burnside began the day two wickets down around 90 in arrears. MP started well with some tight lines restricting the scoring rate and ultimately building pressure which would result in wickets falling at regular intervals.

The introduction of Lachie Cameron James proved especially fruitful, with the young seamer claiming his maiden 5 wicket haul for the club. Ultimately missed opportunities in the field cost MP first innings points with Burnside assuming a 2 run lead.

Spandan and Nick began the reply leaving well and punishing the bad ball. However a cluster of wickets on the cusp of lunch brought Burnside back into the game. An enterprising innings from debutant Aaqib Sharif (53*) enabled MP to make a sporting declaration, setting Burnside 155 to win from 40 overs on a slowing pitch.

However, a well played innings from the Burnside opener would prove the difference between the teams. Ultimately inaccuracies in the field once more cost MP the opportunity to press home any advantage with releases of pressure being granted at far too regular intervals.

The change of format to T20 next week will bring a welcome change of pace and new opportunities.

Harry Meehan

MP Sporting Edge Div. 2 Red vs Sydenham @ Syd 2

(Syd 0/0 & 304/2, MP 0/0 & 206/6 - draw)

We travelled to Sydenham Park no. 2 track to take on Sydenham in day two. With day one washed out, both teams forfeited their first innings to commence a 107 over battle for outright points.

Sydenham batted first and MPCC struck early when Logan Dunn enticed an edge through to Sam Hall. What followed was an excellent display of batting from A Suganthi, who together with T Ward took Sydenham through to 178 at a tick over 5 per over. Once Ward was dismissed for a very good 71, Suganthi upped the tempo even more and finished on 168 not out. It was an impressive display from the young man.

Logan Dunn was the pick of the MPCC bowlers claiming 2 - 35 from 8 overs, being the only bowler to go for under 5 runs per overs. Sydenham left us 305 to claim the outright in 53 overs.

With 170 runs being our highest return this season so far it was a big ask, albeit on an excellent batting wicket. We lost Rakesh Verma early and then Mario Williams and Mark Hume combined for a good partnership until Mario retired hurt on 22 runs. Humey is in great touch getting through to 45 with ease. With the fall of his wicket , so did our chances of an unlikely run chase. Little cameos from Sam Hall 16 and Ben Gill 17 saw us through to 115/4 with about 22 overs left in the day. Andrew Saunders and Kieran Iggo then combined for an 85 run partnership that took us to 200. Andrew (Pixie) fell just before the close for 44. Tony Burroughs scored a half dozen before Kieran 26 not out and Jaxson Stove played out the last over to complete a draw, with MPCC 206/6 in response.

A respectable performance from MPCC in response and a game played in good spirit. Thanks to Mario, Tony, Ramesh, Humey and Gilly for answering the call to join the Div 2 side for this game.

Cheers Pixie

*editors note - some things perhaps best not said, but another "bowler" made their debut at the bowling crease for MPCC after 150+ games with figures of 4 overs 0/27. Probably will wait another 150 games for a 2nd chance after that effort :D 

MP Burger Station Bar 185 Div 3 vs Halswell @ Halswell 2

(MP 153/10, Hals 155/7 - Loss)

No report received

MP BBS Timbers Div 5 vs Richmond @ Edgar Mac 2

(MP 147/8, Rich 148/2 - Loss)

No report received

MP Lewis Excavator Hire Div 6 Panthers vs Halswell @ Centennial 3

(MP 140/10, Hals 63/10 - Win)

The Div 6 Panthers marched onto Centennial Park 3 with a point to prove on Saturday, intent on avenging their earlier-season loss to Halswell. But after losing the toss and being sent in to bat, the innings began in shaky fashion.

Fresh off a century the previous week, opener Max lasted just one run this time in a reminder of cricket’s fickle nature. Dean and Kish set about steadying the ship against disciplined bowling, but progress remained slow. Dean departed for 5, followed soon after by Charan (1) as the Panthers slipped further into trouble.

Andy Richards attempted to lift the tempo but fell for 7, before club stalwart and Panthers debutant Srinath Basaboena offered a brief glimpse of class before being undone by spin. When Kish, who had held the innings together with determined resistance, was trapped LBW for 10, the Panthers were reeling at 51 for 6 after 23 overs.

What followed was the partnership that changed the match. Steve joined Andy A and the pair compiled a fluent and crucial 58-run stand. Targeting the spinners with smart running between the wickets and punishing loose deliveries, they rebuilt the innings with purpose. Steve eventually departed for an energetic 30 off 29 balls, and a couple of quick wickets followed—Isuka falling LBW for 3 and another club stalwart, Ronnie Khuu, joining the fray as the innings neared its close.

Andy A fell agonisingly short of a deserved half-century, caught on 48 while attempting to accelerate at the death. A late mix-up between Lochana and Ronnie ended the innings at 140 all out—an impressive recovery from a precarious position.

Despite the modest total, the Panthers took the field with renewed confidence, and their bowlers immediately justified it. Openers Max and Isuka applied the squeeze from the outset, backed by an energetic and vocal fielding unit buoyed by the presence of Basaboena.

The pressure soon paid off. Max struck first with a sharp catch taken by Andy A at mid-off, following it up next ball with an LBW. Not to be overshadowed, Isuka claimed a wicket of his own the next over thanks to a well-judged catch from Charan at mid-on.

Charan remained busy, taking another catch off Max at square leg, before Max capped his spell with a fourth wicket via LBW. With Halswell reeling, the Panthers’ change bowlers kept the squeeze on. Steve chipped in with a clean bowled, and skipper Andy A returned to snare two more—including the prized wicket of Praveen, who had struck a century in the sides’ previous meeting.

The end came swiftly as Andy A wrapped the innings up in the 25th over, Halswell bundled out for just 63.

What began as a hard grind with the bat transformed into a commanding 77-run victory. The Panthers’ resilience in the first half and their outstanding energy, discipline, and execution in the field delivered a statement performance—one built on grit, teamwork, and a clinical bowling display.

Andy A.

MP Paav Tiling Div 7 vs OBC @ Polo 1A (OBC 226/9, MP 126/10 loss)

No report received.

MP Manetain Building Inspections Masters vs Bye

MP T20 vs Riccarton @ Polo 3A (Ric 174/7, MP 131/8 - Loss)

No report received

Chairmans Cup Match

MPCC vs Halswell @ Halswell 1 (MP 237/9, Hals 162/10 - Win)

A team comprising of both the history and future of MPCC arrived at Halswell park on Sunday to kick off our Chairman's cup campaign.  We won the toss and decided to have a bat on a pitch that looked flat but a little soft and expected it to slow down as the day went on.

Openers got us off to a steady start, with young Charan seeing off the first few overs presenting a nice straight bat and a couple drives into the covers revealing his potential for the future.  A couple wickets fell bringing Pav and Rohit to the crease.  Pav played a mature and steady innings getting to 26, while Ro at the other end threw hands at anything loose.  Ayan came in and although determined to take out some birds nests halfway up nearby trees, wasnt quite able to connect but still a solid 25 from 22 balls.  His departure brought Harry in, and instantly upped the tempo of running between the wickets putting great pressure on the fielding side. His 41 off 38 balls had only one boundary, highlighting how well he was able to rotate the strike.  Ro fell short of his ton on 82 ($10 thanks Sam Gillespie) and was a great aggressive knock.  Same late swinging from the tail got us through to 237/9 which we felt was a good score.

Into the field, opened up with Isuka and Harry.  Isuka bowled beautifully, consistant and good shape kept the batters unable to score.  Harry at the other end, 2 piece ball in hand swinging both ways applied constant pressure.  Sadly i dont have the bowling figures, but they were going maybe 2 or 3 an over after 10 when Lachie and Ro came in.  Ro bowled like he batted, aggressive, straying at times but always positive.  Lachie also enjoyed the 2 piece ball, swinging it sharply and took a couple good wickets.  Kieran Iggo bowled particulary well keeping the run rate down with good variations.  As a set batter started to go at us, we turned to the wise old owl Petros to come and make them look silly.  PK bowled brilliantly, with the batters seemingly having never seen such (slow) pace.  He ended up with 5 wickets, 3 of which well caught by Ayan at long off including one screamer diving forward.

In the end a comprehensive win, and we now look forward to a home semi-final this weekend vs Saints!

Ben G