A great story coming out of the Sydenham Cricket Club over the weekend.

When Mitch Gardiner claimed his second wicket against Burnside West University in the T20 Final, he etched his name into Sydenham history, surpassing the long-standing post-war Premier bowling record of 535 wickets, previously held by club legend Dave Gallop.

It is a remarkable achievement for Mitchell, the current Premier captain, who has represented Sydenham since beginning as a junior in 2002 and made his Premier debut in 2012. His wicket tally now spans 278 two-day wickets, 156 one-day wickets, and 102 T20 wickets. And what a time to do it, a T20 Final.

Dave's legacy at Sydenham remains immense — in addition to his 535 Premier wickets, he amassed over 6,000 Premier runs, cementing his status as one of Canterbury cricket’s finest all-rounders. Dave is still a familiar face at Sydenham Premier matches, and for Mitch to surpass one of his records is a truly significant milestone in the proud history of the Sydenham Cricket club.

Article added: Monday 22 December 2025