What a ridiculous topsy-turvy game cricket can be! After losing to winless, bottom-placed Norths last week, the local C grade players smashed top of the table and lossless Mareeba here at home on Sunday.

The new pitch covers arrived in time to cover puddles of water on Thursday, but fortunately daytime sun Friday and Saturday morning, along with vigilant work from groundsman Keith Taylor, saw the pitch suited to play.

Albeit rain fell for the hour before scheduled start and the pitch was sweaty at 8.30am as the covers finally came off and the Captains tossed the coin for the one day 30/30 match.

Mareeba hesitantly chose to bat and young Shultz ripped through their opening three batsmen, despite some wayward wides to return 3 for 16 off five overs. Along with Muddies’ other opener Scheisser who had a couple of dropped catches to return 0 for 10 off six overs, Mareeba were 3 for 26 in the tenth over when Barnes was introduced to the attack. It was another eight overs before Mareeba added to their runs tally, as Barnes and Redfern bowled consecutive maidens: Barnes (3 for 10 off six) breaking through in his first, third and fourth overs and Redfern (1 for 4 off six overs) gaining a wicket in his fourth caught by Barnes!

Postans (2 for 1) brought his B-grade talents to the game, giving keeper Darren Wall one of his four catches behind the stumps and clean bowling the last Mareeba batsmen – all out for 41 in the 25th of a limited 30 overs. Muddies only real disappointment were four dropped catches which may have embarrassed Mareeba even further.

Muddies openers Darlington and Doble set a pact to not forgo any wickets in the run chase, knowing the pitch surface was still likely to pop a little and they did want to expose their team mates to any pressure. Fortunately for them, they were successful with strong assistance from wayward bowling by Mareeba.

Darlington was happy to still include a lofted six in his 20 off 30 balls; Doble played the “rock” for 7 off 40 and, as wides amassed - 14 along with 2 leg byes, he didn’t really need to play too much. Muddies achieved the meek target in the tenth over – 0 for 43 to seal the win.

The Muddies at home again from 8.30am this Sunday for another 30/30 versus the marginally higher-placed Innisfail.