By Ben Vikionkorpi

Returning to Griffiths Park for week 2 of their clash against Tully, the Astute B Grade Muddies claimed 1st innings and secured the 2 day minor premiership in the process.

Resuming at 0-43, Randal Smith and Ethan McCullough resumed the chase for 174 positively.

Both batsmen were going along smoothly until Randal copped a full toss at head height, splitting his head sending claret running down his face.

Unaware that he was bleeding, thinking it was sweat (not sure whether this is old school tough or just blissfully unaware) Randal faced up to the next ball only to be told he was bleeding, forcing his early retirement.

Nathan King then set about building a partnership with Peanut McCullough.

Patiently building their innings, both Kingy and Ethan kept the score ticking over.

Ethan fell for 19, which brought the aggressive Daniel Harris to the crease.

Dan and Kingy both played some glorious strokes with great footwork to make the batting look easy. Kingy was eventually dismissed for 21, bringing Simon Cody to the crease.

Not wanting to slow up the runs, Simon was quickly out allowing the return of Randal.

Supporting Dan in the run chase, Randal continued to eat up the overs, allowing Dan to score comfortably.

Dan pushed for one boundaries and was caught – out for a quality 42.  The master blaster Julian Harrold then came to the crease.

Julian started blasting the spinners to the boundary, closing in on the target score of 174. Going in to tea at 5 – 166, the win was all but secured. Play resumed which then saw Julian and Randal continue from where they left off.

 Julian then pounded a massive 6 to pass Tully’s score, effectively securing the minor premiership for the Astute Douglas Muddies, and simultaneously knocking last year’s 2 premiers out of the competition.

With only an hour and a half left to play, the Astute Muddies upped the run rate with the pressure now off. Julian was soon dismissed on 32, allowing Gary Postons to play a free flowing innings.

He played some cracking cover drives on his way to a nearly run-a-ball 21. During this time Randal had again passed 50 runs, on his way to a gritty 71, clearly positioning himself as the top run scorer for Astute B Muddies this season.

Alex Bendle managed 4, Adam Lucas a smashing 15 not out and Deep 2, to finish the innings at 10 – 252. With only about 20mins left of play, a disgruntled Tully called the game knowing their season was well and truly dead, thanks to the hands of them mighty Astute Muddies.

The Astute B grade Muddies now play 4th placed Punjabi at home at the Mud Pit, in a 200 over fixture, this Saturday and Sunday. Get down to the Mud Pit and support your local Cricket team with free entry to the ground and cold drinks and hot food available. Go the Muddies!