For those readers who check out the team’s progress each week, it must be both puzzling and humorous to see the topsy-turvy results in the Cricket Far North competition, especially when it comes to team scores.

Last weekend was a classic example, with United having recently been the only team to knock off Mareeba, who were unbeaten in both forms of the game this season.

United accomplished a one-run win against Mareeba the previous week and were well pumped to carry that form against the Port Douglas C-grade Muddies, who had capitulated in their most recent game, all out for 55.

The Muddies batted first, losing the in form Sam Evans for one on the 10th ball of the game.

Enter traditional opener, Steve Doble to join the Muddies best scorer for the season in Damien Darlington.

The two set about building a solid partnership, with Doble passing strike regularly with six singles in eight balls to Darlington, who was working hard between the wickets for twos before flaying four consecutive boundaries, before being caught leg before wicket on 34.

It turned out to be a partnership of 45 runs in seven overs, with score left at 3 for 47 before Simeon Miglioranza took to the crease, misjudging a swinging delivery to be bowled not offering a shot.

Sheldon Walz, promoted in the order, managed six runs before one dribbled through off bat and pad to just dislodge the bails, bowled for six, the score 4 for 60.

The unorthodox Kerrod Andrews then joined Doble and had the opposition thinking he was an easy wicket as the two added a further 29 runs, but it was Doble who fell to the rearing bounce of off-spinner Beal, gloved to first slip for a very disciplined 22, leaving the crease at 5 for 89.

When Andrews (22) fell with the score 7/99 and Rob Gaul, Troy Hilditch and Darren Saint barely contributed, the Muddies looked to number 10 and 11 to take the total into the 120-130 range, which Jordan Butters (17) and Bronson Ryan (12no) did with 30 off 6 overs.

The end result saw the Muddies all out for 131 with five overs, disappointingly, going to waste.

United were quite up-beat as they entered the crease, but Walz took advantage of the bouncy pitch and a perfectly-placed Ryan, at a deep leg slip, swallowed a direct catch off the first ball.

Tom Edwards, who almost single-handily won the semi final for his team against Muddies last season - unbeaten with twin fifties - skied the next ball to the gloves of Evans, the score 2 for 0.

United’s other opener was very keen to get off the mark and ran his partner out on the fourth ball, the score an exciting at 3 for 0!

But a 40-run partnership ensued, with some lucky hitting, before Walz (4 for 20) struck again twice in his last over to take United’s score to 5 for 40.
Butters bowled with a straight seam action, delivering two catches sharply, taken by Gaul at gully and Saint bowled a maiden before Miglioranza was placed deep in the outfield to take a catch with United at 8 for 49 at drinks.
Butters (4 for 8) finished them off in the first over after drinks without addition to the score!

So take a snapshot of that – three wickets on 0, then a 40-run partnership, two wickets on 40, two wickets on 46, three wickets on 49 – all out!

What a weird game this is! Well done Muddies.

With only two games left, the C-grade Muddies play Punjabi at Fretwell Park, South Cairns, on Sunday at 1.30pm, looking to make it four from four against this team.

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