Having set a defendable target of 170 runs Muddies Green discussed pre-game the importance of “no mistakes, no chances” against the talented Mareeba batting line up that last year included two multi-centurions.

Fortunately for the Green team, neither Mareeba centurion was available this week and to top it off, opener J. Smith managed a leading edge “wake up” catch to Darlington at point from just the second delivery to remove the Mareeba Captain.

Taylor and Brewer set about their batting task scoring steadily until the 15th over when Smith struck again to have the visitors 2/40.

Muddies did not stick to their game plan and a few catches, some easy, some hard went to ground as the scoring picked up.

Butters (0/13 off 7), perhaps bowling too well for the grade, went unrewarded, as did “the 5 wicket hauler” Sorensen (0/15 off 4). But it was Redfern who commenced the rot, breaking through in his second and third overs to have Mareeba 4/74 at the halfway point.

Muddies skipper Doble was a little concerned at the runs being leaked and the game was relatively even. Smith bowled unchanged until shortly after the midway break to produce 3/32 off 16 and Simeon Miglioranza who had been unlucky with the bat troubled Mareeba with straight, flat bowling to produce 1/8 off 5.

Redfern meanwhile almost single-handily turned the game from 5/86 to have Mareeba all out for 106, returning his first Muddies “five for” – 5/31 off 10 overs.

Some discussion ensued as to the worthiness of playing on to time given the win should cement the Muddies Green side top of the table in their Division, with a guaranteed finals berth.

Sense prevailed and Walz, whose bowling was not even required, opened the batting with Darlington (13), displaying the quality to find the gaps freely in scoring 46.

Armour, Arora and Sorensen were all given the chance to bat up the order but managed just two between them with Muddies Green gaining some bonus run points to be 6/85 at close of play and Freyling on 14 not out.

The two-day finals are not played until March, so this week the one-day 30 over a side competition begins, with Greens set for a replay against Mareeba in Mareeba.