The C Grade Port Douglas Mudcrabs achieved a fantastic win on Sunday against Mulgrave Pujabi at Fretwell Park.

Continuing on from their 5/26, Pujabi offered some small resistance even though Chandra took the sixth wicket at 30 who at one stage had figures 3/3 off 7 overs.

Sub player, Singh, bowled his first four overs at 0/3 before giving Sam Evans his fourth and fifth catches behind to finish with 2/21.

Joyce (3/13) wrapped up the innings after Pujabi skipper, “Harry,” top scored with 19 of his team’s 67 all out.

The Muddies planned to pile on some quick runs with a distant eye on an unlikely outright win. With Joyce and Ryan given a “licence” and both out to third ball ducks, the plan was looking shaky.

Darlington (21) followed his first innings of 52, teaming up with first innings duck maker, Evans, to compile a partnership of 34 from 9 overs followed by a Gaul (13no)/Evans (36no) partnership of 40 in just 5 overs.

At 3/74 declared, this gave skipper, Doble, 134 runs to work with and approximately 23 overs to achieve the bonus points that would see them directly into the finals.

Opening with subbed players Singh and Ryan was unproductive after 7 overs, so Joyce (1/7) did the job offering another catch to keeper Evans.

Opening bat Sharma again looked the most competent Pujabi batsman, but fell to a superb yorker from junior Kaiden Sorensen (1/21) with the score 2/42.

Walz (2/21) bowled for the first time in the match and showed his skill clean bowling batsmen 3 and 4, before Chandra returned 2/3 off 2 overs – 5/16 off 11 for the match.

Time ran out and Pujabi were fortunate. At 6/75 they were looking down the barrel Doble had planned for them.

This was an excellent win that confirmed the Muddies as the second best team in the C Grade northern pool.

With the association’s changes to the C Grade format, they may or may not make the two day finals finishing third and needing to ultimately be second, but enough wins in the one day series could

boost the two day points sufficiently to still see muddies C Grade in the finals in March.

This week it is back to Crathern Park to take on wooden spooners, Barron River, in the first of the 30/30 series.

Don’t forget to attend the Muddies’ Trivia night at 6pm this Friday 25 November at the Port Douglas Yacht club. It's bound to be fun and is a good chance to mingle with some really nice local sports people, their families and friends and other members of our great community.

Autographed bats from the Bulls Masters and Michael Hussey will be on offer as well as many generous prizes from all the fantastic local businesses.

For more information on the night phone Steve on 0411 399 344. 

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