by David Johnson

On Sunday the Muddies Blues headed out to Atherton for the first game of 2013. After the break for Christmas and New Year's there were a few extra kilos on the field, but all were pumped to get the new year off to a good start and batting first was a great opportunity for the batsmen to make some runs, and that they did.
 
Keith Taylor and Sam Hodgson opened as usual and both started well with the runs flowing early, racing to 0/40 off 6 overs. Unfortunately, Keith was dismissed for 15 bringing Simon Cody to the crease having promoted himself to the valuable number 3 position.
 
This move proved to be handy as both batsmen took to the attack scoring freely combining well for a 69 run partnership until Hodgson, who was looking great for his first fifty of the year, holed out to deep mid wicket on 49 off 52 balls.

Cody continued on, however, notching up his second fifty for the year with a solid 62 coming off just 61 balls after a slow start getting his eye in.

All other batsmen knocked a few runs around with a notable 25 off 11 balls by Shane 'Gilly' Gillespie and Mitch Driver scoring runs again (25 from 15) leaving the Muddies at 8/206 from 30 overs.
 
Having a good total on the board gave the bowlers something to aim at and Dangerous Dave started perfectly bowling their opening bat fourth ball of the innings.

When Driver picked up a wicket in his first over Atherton were on the ropes at 2/6. Driver then went on to take 4/30 off his allotted 6 overs to be the pick of the bowlers and also take the 3 points for man of the match. Hodgson collected 1 point for his effort.

Dangerous finished with 2/26 off his 6 and Hodgson also chimed in with a valuable 2/33 of his 6 including the highest scorer from Atherton to a super catch from Cody at Gully.

Cody finished with two catches as did Matt Chizzinoti behind the stumps. Atherton only reached 8/159 off of their 30 overs to give the Muddies Blues a great start to the year winning by 46 runs.

Next game is down at Fuller Park in Cairns against Tully.