B-Grade game in balance

BEN VIKIONKORPI

The B-grade Port Douglas Mudcrabs will go into this weekend’s second day of their two-day cricket match against Tully in the balance at the neutral venue of Griffiths Park, Cairns.

Winning the toss, the Muddies batted first on what turned out to be a seaming deck.

Looking solid early, Simon Migliorenza had his stumps sent flying off a great full length ball. Sam Hodgson was scoring quickly until he popped up a caught and bowl chance trying to dig out a low full toss with the score at two for 18.

Batting at number three, Hayden D’Addona was the rock of the innings while wickets fell around him.

A quick cameo from Harrold (19) and a controlled innings from Butterss (24) were the only other highlights of the innings. Hayden (28) eventually fell for the eighth wicket. The tail end scraped through to 123 with Kaiden Sorensen not out for nine in his first B grade game.

Tully showed good intent and solid batting to withstand the attack from Ben Vikionkorpi and Johnson. Adam Lucas came in fired up and got the break through bowling Singh from a short delivery that bounced off his body onto the stumps with the score on 42.

Kaiden Sorensen then claimed his first B grade wicket bowling Shaw for 0. Lucas then bowled Tully captain, Alan Payne, off a quick Yorker to have Tully at three for 47. Ben Vikionkorpi came back to claim two scalps to have Tully reeling at five for 71.

However, a solid partnership from two Tully youngsters got the score to 116 before Dave Johnson produced a marvellous piece of fielding for a direct run out to close play for the day.

The game is in the balance going into week two with Muddies needing four quick wickets and Tully needing eight runs for first innings points.

Muddies C-Grade to defend next week

In preparation for watching the Roosters trounce Manly, third grade Rovers requested an early match start, at 9.30am instead of 1pm.

Muddies won the toss and thinking they had filled their one player short situation due to the arrival of baby Ella for Matt Scheiser, they chose to bat.

The eleventh player never arrived but the boys broadly performed well. Openers Darlington (29) and Doble (10) completed their third straight 40+ opening stand and chanceless at that, but it was the combination of Taylor at #3 and Ben Gaske at #4 that lifted the run rate after the openers fell in close succession soon after the drinks break, Muddies 2/44 in the 24th over.

The middle order batsmen complimented each other well, Taylor driving and Gaske nudging in particular on leg side. Gaske carrying a niggling groin strain placed his partner under pressure with a quick single resulting in a run out for Taylor who was otherwise set on 24.

Gaske exceeded his own expected run rate prior to being bowled for an impressive 49 off 60 as the pair contributed a 52 run stand, followed by Gaske and young Ashley Davidson putting on 43 before Gaske fell at 4/139 with 8 overs to go. Again Davidson was stumped but this time for a strong 26 as wickets fell around him, Muddies seeking quick runs.

Redfern was very pleased to get off the mark managing a quick 10 off 8 balls although the Muddies handed a hat trick to Rovers 14 year old Sumner who turned his 0/70 off 19 overs to be 3/70 in the 20th, Barnes (1) the last to fall after a Bronson Ryan golden duck! Muddies finished on time with 164 to defend next week.

Back to full strength with Shervo and an otherwise ill Shulz available to bowl the team to victory this Sunday.