Continuing the second half of the round 7 clash in Innisfail on Sunday, B Muddies failed to capitalize on a positive start to lose the 1st innings and nearly lose outright.

Resuming at 4 – 64, chasing another 94 runs for victory, Muddies capitulated to be all out for 132. Kaiden Sorensen and Matt Chizzonitti were at the crease at the start of play, but it didn’t take long for Innisfail to claim Kaiden’s wicket when he skyed a catch to backward square leg. Ben Vikionkorpi tried to get the innings on track with Chizzo, but a tight call and dodgy running between the wickets saw Chizzo gone for 10.

Butterss joined Vik at the crease, but the very slow off spin from the Innisfail bowlers was too much for him to resist, out stumped going for an early swipe. Gary Postons and BV set about reducing the deficit. They had a solid partnership going until Ben received a slow, wide ball that hit something on the deck to bounce over his attempted cut shot, and slow down so much that it took fell on the top of off stump on its way back down. Adam Lucas and Dave Johnson helped Buckets get closer to the target, but Muddies were bowled out for 132 – 25 runs in deficit for their second loss of the season.

With plenty of time in hand, Kaiden and Benny Vik set about trying for a second innings outright by claiming 3 early wickets. Adam Lucas joined Kaiden and picked up two wickets consecutively to have a chance at a hat trick. Specialist fielders were brought in close for the hat-trick opportunity, but to no avail, as the ball flicked off the batters legs for leg byes.

The early wickets continued, and Innisfail were flailing at 7 – 18, with Muddies getting ready to take the outright win. However, a stubborn innings from the Innisfail tail-enders saw them clamber through to be all out for 81, leaving Muddies 107 runs to chase off a minimum 16 overs for an outright win.

The hope for the outright win quickly slipped from the Muddies claws as they lost two wickets in the first over. Another two wickets quickly fell, and the Muddies were struggling on the crumbling deck being 4 – 16 with 35 mins remaining. Ben and Bronson Ryan tried to steady the ship, but Bronson was bowled out for 9. Butterss returned to centre but didn’t last long, and new-comber Daniel Callaghan walked out for his first dig as a ‘Muddie’.

Ben didn’t last much longer, losing his wicket to a low bouncing ball, but the reins were taken over by Chizzo. Daniel and Chizz showed good resistance, until Daniel lost his wicket in the last over the day. Kaiden closed out the innings to have Muddies finish the second innings at 7 - 48.

B Grade Muddies still remain in second place after this loss, but need to regroup before the next round starts. There is now a two week break for Christmas, with play resuming in T20 format on the 5th January, at Griffiths Park in Cairns.