Burnside West Claim Mud Cup Crown in Blenheim

Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club | September 30, 2025

Twelve months on from falling just short, Burnside West Christchurch went one better at Horton Park, lifting the 2025 Mud Cup after an unbeaten campaign capped by a tense 12-run win over hosts Marlborough in Sunday’s final.

The campaign began on tricky footing in a low-scoring arm wrestle with Marlborough. Burnside’s innings looked in danger of collapsing before Tim Seeto, fresh off a winter on the hockey turf, steadied and counter-punched his way to an unbeaten 40. His 360-degree scoring kept the scoreboard alive, the side scrambling to 120 and earning a tie that felt like a narrow escape.

From there Burnside found rhythm. Against Sydenham, Seeto again provided the platform with a clever 30, Matt Lewis chimed in with a valuable 20, and then it was the Aston Growden show. The left-arm seamer found movement and discipline, slicing through Sydenham’s order to claim four wickets. Burnside ran away comfortable winners, their campaign now properly ignited.

The defending champions Saint Albans were next, and Burnside delivered their most polished display of the tournament. Callum Hill flourished at the top, blazing 54 off 35 to set up 140. With scoreboard pressure applied, Alex McDuff then stamped authority with the ball, his four wickets ensuring Saint Albans fell 25 runs short. The victory sealed Burnside’s place in the decider, confidence swelling.

In the grand final against Marlborough, Burnside weathered a nervy start. Matt Hay’s brisk 21 from 10 balls provided spark, but wickets tumbled and it fell to Hill once more to restore calm, his 39 off 34 guiding the total to 140. Marlborough’s chase carried menace, but Burnside’s bowling suffocated the hosts. Lewis and Zohrab claimed timely breakthroughs before Adam Winter closed with ice-cold death bowling, sealing a 12-run win and the Mud Cup.

Burnside West are ready to now launch into the season proper. Their title defence begins this Saturday at Burnside Park against East Shirley, and on the back of their Blenheim triumph, few would bet against them carrying that winning momentum into round one.

Clip from BeaconPoint Cricket with Chris Rogers - The First 20 balls