By Steven Doble

Astute Financial Muddies' weekend of finals saw C Grade commence play after the lunch break due to wet ground delays.

With a two meter quagmire of soft ground just off the wicket square but running its full length (that at one stage influenced the pitch roller to slide dramatically off the square and spin out!) some thought the Mud Crabs would take to the muddy field but their skipper won the toss and elected to bat, and ideally bat and bat as "finals rules" permit, batting Rovers out of the potential 180+ over game.

Taylor and Doble were encouraged to consume as many Rovers overs as possible thus taking up game time and at least preparing a solid foundation. The pair showed patience and commitment in seeing off 20 overs from the openers, the first and second change bowlers but then bowler five had Doble caught, followed by a dubious Walz wicket and then Taylor; 3/36!

Tom Goodall (swapping with Simon Cody in a B to C grade swap) looked poised and powerful with two big boundaries and although Darlington fell at 5/52 it was the follow up of Tom, the only "bowled" in the match at 5/55 off 34 overs that looked daunting. Postans set about to support Harrold and the pair pushed the ones and twos for a 21 run stand followed by Gilmour supporting at 6/76.

During this last hour's play the umpires allowed a 12th man replacement for Rovers' opening bowler who had gone back to work. Muddies respectfully discussed with the umpires who re-read the rules and notified the Rovers Captain that specific to a Grand Final this was not an acceptable replacement, only 10 players could now field.

Not necessarily having too much bearing but the momentum nevertheless swung Muddies way as the two batsmen faced a couple of bowling changes but more so after Rovers 6th and 7th bowlers were taken apart. In nine overs from 6/95 the pair smashed their way to 6/158 and the Muddies were back on top still with a slow outfield but a less active wicket. Harrold (58) and Gilmour (45) added 82 but unfortunately the tail didn't wag much and Muddies set a 1st innings total of 170.

Given earlier delays, play had been extended to 6pm leaving Rovers seven overs to face and an impatient Pete Gilmour with ball in hand and greedy Mr Barnes ready at the other. Pete bowled three consecutive maidens and Barnes one, but it was Pete's 5th and 6th first deliveries that really shook Rovers as Taylor took a slow motion catch diving forward at gully and Pete trapping an LBW next delivery, Rovers finishing at 2/5 and lots of work for day two.

The ground had improved and the pitch freshly rolled looked great for batting but superb lines from Gilmour rendered him too difficult taking the edge of the bat to Barnes at slip. 3-14 became 4/23 as Gilmour trapped another LBW.

Keel Sorensen was brought into the attack as his Muddies team mates overheard Rovers #1 batsmen waffling something about "great, gunna hit some sixes off the kid". Keel oblivious to this simply bowled his own game no different to his teammates playing "their brand of cricket, the Muddies way" and BANG second delivery the mouthing bunny was caught behind trying to cut a ball over off stump.

Rovers still had Forsyth 17no off 69 deliveries but when Keel had him caught and bowled Rovers were reeling worse than the Muddies had fared 6/38. Big hitting Barry Lea had been a bunny for Keel during the season but he took Gilmour over the boundary for 1 six followed by Keel for 2 as Rovers quickly doubled their score in just 8 overs, now 6/77.

Barnes put an end to it Gilmour catching Lea for 27 then the other threatening batsmen #7 Koch caught behind off Gilmour (his 5th wicket). 8/107 again looked attractive to the Muddies but their plight was far from over as some great all round bowling failed to produce much and the only two chances went to grass!

Patane (a worthy bowler) started to look a worthy bat and combined with a Junior player who other than age rulings would be playing higher grade cricket was also at the crease. 8/110, became 120, 130, 140 and at the drinks break despite many a bowling change and significantly more field adjustments Golden Arm Keith Taylor in his 101st game was approached by the skip to bowl and Walz brought back to replace Barnes. Keith's 1st over went for 6, Walz 1, then Taylor with all the gusto of a cyclone appealed for an LBW landing on the batsman's boot - GONE!

Rovers needing 22 to win had one wicket in hand but their prior three wickets had produced some 111 runs! Nerves were frayed and Skipper Doble's arms looked like they were in that cyclone too with field adjustments every delivery, all players trying to otherwise remain calm, focused and patient, the last nine overs trickling just 12 runs but now with only nine runs left to defend and a Premiership waiting to be snatched.

Walz was defended first ball of his last over prior to an over flighted delivery meeting the blow of the bat straight back to Matt Scheisser at shortish mid on to complete the winning wicket! Muddies C Grade back-to-back premiers - THEY LOVE CRICKET! GO B GRADE!

Muddies C Grade final scores - Muddies all out 170 beating Rovers all out 161.