Playing in the return game after a controversial wash out in their first clash, Muddies B Grade showed their dominance over North’s in a 35 over game at Griffiths Park at the weekend, winning 5 – 140 (35 overs) to 10 – 79 (28 overs).

With mid to late week rain starting to take effect on the fields, Captain Vik’s strategic win of the toss allowed the Muddies to take full advantage of the wet conditions.

Batting first in an attempt to wreck North’s game ball by hitting it on the ground and soaking up the early morning dew, Ben Gaske and Simeon Migliorenza performed this task perfectly. Taking their time and just comfortably working the ball around, Ben and Sim kept the scoring ticking over, which became easier as the now wet ball provided no assistance to the North’s bowlers. Unluckily losing his wicket LBW, Ben returned to the pavilion for 7, swapping places with Nathan Taig on his return game from holidays. Nathan quickly hit the first four of the day, but was then keeled over after every ball, looking as though his Christmas break was still catching up on him. Unfortunately for the Muddies, it turned out the he was suffering a nasty bout of the gastro virus that has plagued much of the Douglas region in the past few weeks.

A change in bowling saw Simeon try to take to the spinner, but had his stumped cleaned up with the score on 31. Hayden D’Addona joined Nathan at the crease for a short lived 4 run partnership, with Nathan losing his stumps; Muddies 3 for 35.

The game was then in the balance: a couple of more quick wickets and Muddies could have been reeling. However, the mature heads of 16 year olds Hayden and Ethan McCullough, playing with concentration and patience above their years, produced a work horse like 64 run partnership.

The scoring was not easy to start, but eased a little with the drying fields. Ethan had more freedom to score with a spread field, but with Hayden, North’s bunched the field, cutting off Hayden’s scoring. Hayden responded with some calculated quick footwork, hitting over the top of the field on numerous occasions, finding the boundaries when needed. Their partnership ended with the score 99, when Ethan was run out for 30 trying to rotate the strike and push quick singles.

Jordan Butterss gladly took to the crease with a handful of overs left, qucikyl picking up the scoring rate. Hayden fell for 30 on 121, and Ben Vik went out to lift the scoring rate even more. Jordan was the dasher however, finishing with 24 off balls, to talk Muddies 5 - 140 off 35 overs.

Fresh from their rest on the sidelines, ‘Kaos’ Sorensen and Adam Lucas opened the bowling, with precision line and length. North’s batsmen couldn’t get them away, and the pressure took its toll with Luco getting the first break through. North’s were 1 – 14 from 10 overs after Luco and Kaiden finished their spells: Kaiden 0 – 5 off 5, Luco 1 – 9 off 5. Dave Johnson and Benny Vik then took up the attack, but both only bowled three overs as they struggled for line and length. Butterss then forced another first ball wicket with his ‘offies’, with Ben Vikionkorpi scooping on the loose ball for a perfect throw back to the keeper for a 2nd run run-out: North’s 2 down for 40 at drinks.

Resuming after the interval, Buckets joined forces with Butterss, squeezing pressure on the batters. When Buckets bowled his stock wicket taking full toss, he picked up his second wicket for the day, with a skyed ball into the outfield for McCullough to catch. Butterss was replaced with D’Addona, who had instant success, picking up an early wicket. He followed that up with 2 in his second over, giving Ethan another catch, producing three wickets in two overs.

With North’s 7 down for 78, Dave Johnson was reintroduced to clean up the tail, and didn’t he so!! Dave took a ripper caught and bowled that was absolutely smashed back to him, and after a juggle, managed to hold it still. He then clean bowled the next batsmen, and got the incoming captain with the first ball he faced; a jumping ball that took his gloves providing an easy catch for the keeper. Finishing the game this way now leaves Dave on a hat-trick coming into the next game.

The ability of the boys the knuckle down and show grit and determination when needed, and to also step up and finish off the game in a convincing style shows how well the team is playing together. This has traditionally been a weak point for the Muddies, in letting teams get away when a win is close.

It’s great to see the team working together with everyone chipping in when needed, and spirits staying high for the game allowing us to finish off the game strongly. Our next game is a home game this weekend, following the C grade game Sunday morning, pending the weather. Come down and support your local sporting teams!