The Port Douglas Court House Hotel Mudcrabs Cricket club finally got on the pitch after week one of this their first two day game of the season vs Innisfail was washed out.

The rain affected game was reduced to a 35 over one day match, and 3rd Grade Captain Steve Doble won his first toss of the season and put his faith in his batting line-up full of new recruits.

His faith was fully justified with 23 runs on the board before a comfortable looking partnership between the Skipper and Sheldon Walz was unexpectedly ended when Walz was bowled for 12.

The momentum stayed with the Mudddies as each top order batsmen contributed to a healthy total of 6 for 155 at close of their 35 overs.  Top scorers were Steve Doble 19, Simon Cody with 38, Veteran Randall Malander who illustrated his class at number 3 with 28 and debutant number 7 batter Shane Palmer on 30 not out when the overs ran out.

Again the new players in the Muddies ranks bowled well and played an excellent supporting role to opening bowler Darryl Mison who dominated with 4 for 22 runs off just 7 overs.  Shane Palmer took 2 for 14 off 7 overs, Dave Joyce took 2 for 23 off 7 overs and Sheldon Walz and Nathan King each took a wicket apiece to finish off their opponents for just 76 all out off only 26 overs. Port Douglas won by 81 runs.  Simon Cody took man of the match.

Next week (Oct 3rd) the 2nd Grade Muddies are at Tully for the first day of their first two day match having enjoyed a slow start to the season with a bye in the first match (Mareeba pulled out from the 2nd Grade competition at the last moment).  The 3rd Grade are at Barron River for day one of their second two day game.

The first home game for the Muddies is 2nd Grade vs United (Grand Final rematch) on Oct 9th starting at 10am (Port Douglas sports Ground) for the first of the 50 Over competition. Refreshments are available all day at the canteen.

Result: Port Douglas WON FIRST INNINGS
Points: Innisfail 3rd: 1.92 Douglas 3rd: 7.55

Toss won by: Douglas 3rd
Batted first: Douglas 3rd

Douglas 3rd - 1st INNINGS
S Doble(c)         c  b MD Horton   19
S Walz              b    GG Coull      12
RR Malander     st b MD Horton    28
S Cody              c  b G Brown     38
D Joyce             c  b MD Horton   4
SS Miglioranza  c  b G Brown      10
S Palmer                  not out       30
D Mison                    not out       1
N King              dnb    
+S Evans         dnb    
Extras:    (2nb,9w,1b,1lb)         13    
Total:     (cc)                             6/155    
Overs:                                      35

FOW:23(S Walz) 61(S Doble)
72(RR Malander) 91(D Joyce) 114(SS Miglioranza)
148(S Cody)
Bowling: Not Available
   

Innisfail 3rd - 1st INNINGS
Total     72    
Overs     26.3

Bowling:     O     M     W     R
S Palmer     7     1     2     14
D Mison      7      2     4     22
D Joyce      7      3     2     13
S Cody       1      0      0     8
S Walz         3     0     1     6
N King         1.3   0     1     8