In the Grand Final battle of the Crustaceans versus Amphibians, it was the bowlers from both species that dominated the first weekends proceedings, with the Astute Financial Muddies needing 10 wickets with 258 runs up their sleeve to take out the 2014-15 B Grade Cricket Far North Grand Final. 

Starting of the epic 4 day, 400 over game, the Scylla serrata (Mudcrabs) Captain Benny Vik decided to bat first in a 50/50 decision. 

In a new look opening pair containing over 100 years of experience, Keith Taylor and Randal Smith strode out confidently to the deck at Griffiths Park 2. 

With a combined season total of 624 runs between them, the confidence was with the Astute Muddies batsmen to set a solid foundation. 

However, the Rhinella marina bowlers had other plans, removing Poppy Taylor for 0 in the second over of the day. 

Ethan McCullough set about establishing himself but found it hard to get his feet going in his borrowed pair of spikes due to leaving one of his own shoes in his bedroom. 

When Randal scooped one to backward leg for 24, Peanut Mac was still on 0. Eventually scoring with the support of Nathan King at the crease, the Astute Muddies moved to 39 before Ethan was caught in slip – the Astute Muddies 3-39. Dan Harris and Kingy nudged to score slowly in an effort to try and consolidate the shaky start. 

Just as Dan looked to be finding the confidence to play his natural game, the drinks break came and broke his concentration. Straight after drinks, he caught the leading edge and popped a simply chance to short cover with the Astute Muddies now 4 - 68. 

Simon Cody joined Kingy but decided he’d had enough of Cody talking about the Black Caps game and was dismissed for 19, leaving the Muddies in a sticky situation at 5 – 73. 

This brought about Sammy Evans pumped up on his Le Bron juice to the crease with the game in the balance. Playing his natural game, the self-proclaimed ‘big show’ Same Evans went . 2 . . 4 . . . 6 and then continued along his merry little way smashing the Toads around the park. 

Showing good patience and waiting for his ball, Sam ended up hitting probably the biggest six seen on the ground, clearing the fence, the parallel running road and about 5m down the adjoining road. Evans was eventually dismissed in a whirlwind 42; Simon Cody went for 13 and Gary Postons then came and soon went for 5. 

 Now 8 down for 155, there was a still a lot of work to be done to set a competitive score. Bringing together the Astute Muddies opening bowlers Adam Lucas and Benny Vik, this generally successful partnership did not disappoint. Both batters showed a combination of patience and hitting ability to put on a 62 run partnership. 

With the score on 213, Luco was caught behind for the top innings score of 45. Daniel Redfern was dismissed first ball for the second duck of the innings to finish the Astute Muddies dig at 213.

An hour and a half is a long time in cricket, especially after toiling in the hot sun, and this seemed to cook the Toads somewhat. But also having to face the pumped up Luco with the wind at his back proved too much for the Toads. Luco’s vicious short balls proved the undoing for the opening bat, providing Sammy Evans with a catch at short leg. 

Another short ball from Luco caught the top edge seemingly going straight to Cody at gully, but the strong wind kept pushing it over his head. Benny Vik was backing up, ready for the tip off Simon’s hands, but it missed them completely and fell to the ground of Vik’s hands. 

This then had Luco seeing red, much to the dismay of the Toads. 

This resulted in a multitude of sensational deliveries with plenty plays and misses. Luco caught the edge of the key batter that went flying to Benny Vik at 2nd slip, but the sheer pace of the ball saw it just roll out the top of his hands for his 2nd dropped catch of the afternoon. 

Didn’t this see Luco crack it!! With old man Benny Vik gassed from bowling in the wind after 4 overs, Gary Postons came on and picked up the 2nd wicket thanks to a sensational catch from ‘the big show’. 

The ploy of the Astute Muddies captain then saw Luco rattle the stumps of the new batsmen. Randal Smith and Daniel Redfern joined forces for a run out in Redderz first over. Luco then hit the new CFN B Grade Champion Player of the Year in the shoulder 1st ball, delivered another short ball, and then rattled his stumps 3rd ball to have the Toads reeling at 5 – 27. 

They scraped through to 5 - 41 at the end of play on Saturday.

Picking up on Sunday morning from where he left off, Luco pick up his 3rd bowled for the innings, and another short ball picked up the Mulgrave captain for 0 giving Luco his first 5 wicket haul for the season – Mulgrave 7 – 43. Benny Vik then made amends for his dropped catch claiming the wicket of the B Grade aggregate run scorer (696 runs this season) to have the Toads at 8 – 43. The 9th wicket fell to Luco at 60 runs. 

However, a stubborn last wicket stand saw the Toads scrape to 125, with multiple chances going to ground before Fossil 2 (Randal) and Uncle Red joined again to claim the last wicket leaving the Astute Muddies with an 88 run lead.

Needing one more wicket to reach 300 runs for the season, Poppy Taylor (affectionately known as Fossil) claimed his first ever pair, ending the season on 299 runs (a damn good effort from the club veteran!!). Looking to take the game away from the Toads, the Astute Muddies top order flailed aimlessly bar Kingy (28) to be 7 – 59. 

n never before seen circumstances, three batsman shouldered arms (left the ball and got bowled) to have the Astute Muddies major sponsor looking on in shock. This again had Luco seeing all shades of red, but the drinks break calmed him down. In a game changing partnership of 82, Luco and Buckets sank the hearts of the Toads. 

In the process, Luco brought up his first 50 of the season, amassing 58 and a total of 103 runs for the game – awesome effort for the opening bowler. Buckets and Ben got the total to 153 before Gaz was dismissed. Redderz then chipped in for a quick fire 15 before being caught at long on. 

The Astute Muddies all out for 170, leaving the Toads needing 259 runs for victory. 

The Astute Muddies got to bowl one over at the Toads to end play, but they ducked and weaved as much as possible to avoid Luco getting another wicket.

There are still 200 overs and 2 days to play, but one way or another, the game will be over Saturday afternoon. 

The game is definitely in the Astute Muddies favour, knowing that in the 3 innings that the Toads have had against the Crabs this year, they haven’t scored over 127. 

Get down to Griffiths Park 2 at 10am this Saturday barracking for your Astute Financial Douglas Muddies and giving them the edge to flatten the Toads. Up the Muddies!!