Muddies C Grade had the almighty challenge of Mareeba on the weekend who have only lost one game and recently chased down the Muddies' 176 in 30 overs to win that game too.

Again losing the toss, the Muddies were placed in the field and, again, Walz got them off to a great start with a first ball wicket when the ball turned sharply and bounced alarmingly to take the batsmen’s glove – caught by Darlington at slip.

At 1/21 Butters took the second wicket bowled. Mareeba’s skipper Payne was joined by ex-A Grade player Stallan who has a couple of centuries this season to go with a few bags of wickets.

The two put on a 54 run partnership with calculated aerial shots, the Muddies missing two golden opportunities in the outfield before Miglioranza (2/14) was rewarded twice for his line and length, bowling the in form Stallan (20) directly after drinks and following up three balls later with Hilditch’s outfield catch of Payne (47) - 4/74.

Vik Chandra (1/30), assisting from B Grade caught Shaw on the crease LBW at 5/82, but Mareeba’s middle order continued to play their shots in all directions making field placements difficult and ruining a portion of the figures from young Ben Shrimpton who deserved better than his 2/29 from 3 overs.

The unorthodox late order run saw Mareeba finish their 30 overs at 8/161.

Darlington (0) and Evans (9) opened unsuccessfully for the Muddies and when the skipper also fell for a duck – LBW the Muddies were 3/27.

Miglioranza did his best to hit himself out of a small form slump falling for a fast paced 21. Butters (16) and Shrimpton (15) were building well but the Muddies failed to bring together any partnerships better than 28.

Andrews (14) and Hilditch (9 no) tried to turn the match back in the favour of the Muddies as Taylor (4/13) tore through the tail despite the run rate placing the team in a “gettable” position.

Enter Port’s very own David Warner, Vik Chandras, who surprised and inspired all, including his B Grade team mates when on his ninth ball at 2 not out the right hander “switch hit” Mareeba’s number seven bowler Foxwell for six – out foxed indeed.

Unfortunately Vik fell caught three balls later and the Muddies were stuck on their previous game’s total of 117 all out. A disappointing end considering they had 7 overs spare.

Two fixtures remain for the fourth placed Muddies against unknown teams from another pooled competition - at home this week against a bottom placed Mulgrave Toads, the next week at Griffiths versus Norths who are second in their pool. 

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