The Muddies C-grade side lads hosted Barron River for the first day of their Far North Cricket two-day fixture that is poised for any result this weekend.

Unfortunately, the groundsman had to contact the Muddies President at 7am (just one and a half hours before Sunday's scheduled start) to report a rather disappointing and immature act of vandalism set to cost the club $3500.

With eyelets ripped, the pitch covers sat in piles adorning vehicle tyre marks and burns, as did part of the pitch itself, along with the centre square being scattered with the securing pegs and even the outer grounds showing a variety of vehicle marks.

Fun perhaps for the class "F" citizens who demonstrated their bottom of the gene pool characters but sad for a volunteer run club working so hard for the game and players in the region.

As a result, the game was slightly late to start, and seeking an opportunity to gain maximum points, the bowling strong Muddies opened with Scheisser and Schultz, the former breaking through after forcing consecutive late shots from Barron's opener who played on – the score at 1 for 3.

Shultz, who is looking more fluent and relaxed, has been improving his consistency and was rewarded after five overs to return 1 for 11 beating Barron's captain, clean bowled. The Muddies new Indian bowler had been in a Deep sleep, arriving late, but struck in his first with a catch to Doble – the score 3 for 18.

At a slow two runs an over, Barron lost further wickets to the pressure of Barnes and Singh to be 6 for 56 at tea. After the rest, a 38-run partnership was broken by Redfern, who eventually managed three wickets for 19 off 11 with strong catches by Gaske and Scheisser.

Singh finished with a deep hearted effort of 3 for 22 off 15, Scheisser 1 for 13 off 11, Barnes 2 for 37 off 13 as Muddies eventually finished off a wagging tail - Barron all out 116.

After the umpire had made numerous comments about supposed slow over rates, Muddies found themselves ahead of time to face five overs at the end of play with an unfortunate Davidson (2), who took a great earlier catch bowled by the respectfully old and talented Peter Whitehead to then also find the company back in the change rooms of recently successful Gaske (0).

Muddies finished at 2 for 11 off 5 overs, the belligerent Darlington have successfully wooly wooshed a six as the only highlight!

So the boys will buckle in to fight out their win next week at 8.30am Sunday at home, with Darlington and Doble to recommence at the crease, needing 106 with 60 overs still in the match.