By Daniel Redfern

With another soaked outfield the Astute Financial Mud Crabs were forced to wait for the outfield to dry up before their quest for back to back premierships began.

Losing the toss the Muddies were sent into bat and set about getting the job done. Ben (Tiny Dancer) Shrimpton and Randel Smith opened for Crabs and the two were looking good before Randel fell for ten score 1/29.

King came in next and feel to a sharp catch down leg side for 0 before Ethan entered and tried to help settle the ship before Benny lost his wicket for a well-made 30. The next few wickets feel pretty cheap and with the score at 6/54 something needed to happen.

Enter Sam “Big Show” Evens.

Sam set out on a mission and that was to put runs on the board, with the help from now or two dropped catches Sam moved along to 50 in no time and what a celebration it was. Sam wasn’t finished there belting his way to 91 as Darren (The Rock) Wall watched on. The Rock was left stranded as he ran out of batsman with the Muddies being bowled out for 172.

Fired up Muddies unit went out for the last 14 overs of the day. Benny V and Captain Grumpy opened the bowling for the Crabs which saw the fall of one wicket before the close of play. Overnight score 1/13.

Day 2 saw no interruptions to the start of play and it wasn’t long before the Crabs were amongst it. Opening the bowling for the day was Adam Lucas and Daniel Redfern and it only toke three overs from Redfern before the Crabs got there second wicket. Redfern produced another wicket in his fourth over to have Barron river 3/51.

Having Barron on the back foot and with some outstanding bowling from Bobby Lucas and Redfern, saw baron fall 5/56 6/65 7/85 8/85 9/88 and eventually all out for 108.

Best of the bowlers were Redfern and Lucas with Lucas bowling 19 overs claiming 4/39 and Redfern spun a web with 16 overs claiming 5/34.

With a lead of 64 the Muddies went to build on it. With a fired up Ben (Tiny Dancer) Shrimpton taking eight of the first over the Crabs look the goods. That was short lived with Mr Smith falling for 0.

Next to go was young Ben for 11. Kingie looked like he was starting to settle with Benny V before Ben fell for two then king for 17. Ethan McCullough was the pick of the batters making a well-made 37.

At 5/85 the Muddies had a brain fade losing its last five wickets for just 22 runs being all out for 107 leaving a fired up Dan Harris stranded not out for 20.
 With 171 to defend the Crabs will go into week two needing eight wickets and Baron needing 121 for victory.

Currently Baron are 2/50 after an absolute peach from Darren Wall and a terrific run out by the Tiny Dancer, Ben Shrimpton. Heads down this week and lets bring it home lads. Also a huge congrats to the Muddies C Grade for claiming back two back flags.