With Atherton on 4 for 19 at the start of the second days play Court House Hotel Port Douglas Mudcrabs cricket team were looking for another flying start.

Well, as it turned out there was more time spent in the car traveling, than on the field for the boys from Port.

With the ground in the best condition it has been in many weeks it looked to be a good day for cricket, but when you have the man mountain in Dale Arnell steaming in with a healthy breeze behind him it can be a scary assignment. Arnell bowled a maiden with the first over of the day setting the scene for a very hard afternoon for the Atherton batsman.

Keith Taylor started the afternoon from the other end bowling into the breeze which created some great looping leg cutters making Nasser from Atherton miss time a number of shots until he smashed a half volley back at Taylor who unfortunately could not hold on to the catch to take the first wicket of the day.

Arnell came on for his second over of the day and Lake managed to get a half shot through the covers for one run. The only run of the day! With Nasser on strike Arnell created a faint edge that carried to McConnell behind the stumps for the first wicket of the day. Two balls later Arnell pitched the ball just shot of a length cramping Quartero into playing a shot that popped up to Ryan Thwaite at bat-pad.

'Golden Arm' Taylor ran in and balled the first ball of his second over of the day which caught the outside edge of Lakes bat and was easily caught by McConnell behind the stumps for his first wicket of the game and the last wicket for Atherton.

In 15 minuets Atherton were all out for a total of 7 for 20 of 18 overs in their second innings after some of Atherton's players did not turn up for the second days play.

Atherton were still 2 runs behind Port Douglas when they were bowled out giving Port Douglas an outright win by an innings and 2 runs.

Arnell finished with figures of 3 for 5 of 7 overs, Taylor had 1 for none off 1.1 overs.

This win gives Port Douglas Mudcrab's a couple points buffer at the top of ladder going into the last game of the season against second placed Rovers at Port Douglas Sports Complex on the 28th of February and the 7 March. The Port Douglas C Grade team is also playing at home next game on Saturday the 27 February and 6 March. Both games start at 1pm.

Go Muddies . . . .