AFTER five long weeks of mixed results playing away, the Muddies B grade have finally played their first home game of cricket at the Mud pit for the 2016/17 season against Mulgrave toads.

Presented with hot and windy conditions, Port Douglas captain Ethan McCullough’s decision to bat first was the right one. The Muddies batting line-up was strengthened with the inclusion of the in-form Ben Shrimpton and a reshuffled order.

But, as well know, cricket is a funny game, and although batting on a good bowling deck, five out of the top six Muddies batsmen failed to adjust to the good bowling executing poorly timed shots to barely trouble the scorebook.

With the score at 5/36 after 15 overs, skipper Ethan and the vintage Gary Buckets dug in deep for the next 10 overs and posted a healthy and patient 32-run partnership before Buckets was dismissed caught behind by a vicious ball.

Another cheap wicket saw Pistol Pete Gilmore join the skipper at the crease. The duo decided to raise the tempo in the last nine overs combining Ethan’s well-timed and placed shots and Pistol Pete’s power game, they put on a-run-a-ball 53-run partnership with Pete finishing on 25 not out and Ethan play a really good captains knock unbeaten on 47.

Credit is due to the Mulgrave bowlers who bowled a tight line to restrict the Muddies to a mediocre but defendable 7/125 off their 35 overs. The Muddies fielders and bowlers knew that they had to be on point for the full innings if they had any chance to win.

Kaiden Sorenson bowled a Glenn McGrath-like spell opening the bowling beating the batsmen with balls that were unplayable and unlucky not to result in wickets only to set them up for a fired up Adam Lucas to knock them down with pace, aggression and control to leave Mulgrave in big trouble at 3/8.

With the runs drying up and the Muddies in full control, the ball was swung to Ben ‘mango shrimp’-who enjoyed immediate success, bowling a nagging line and claiming two wickets in his first two overs.