Staff Writers

The NQ Home Douglas Muddies continue to celebrate after winning the Cricket Far North 3rd grade title against Norths CC in a one-sided affair.

With limited notice given that the Muddies would host the final, groundsman Keith Taylor did an exceptional job to get the pitch and grounds prepared with the wet weather hindering his preparations.

Skipper Ethan McCullough continued his good form with the coin toss and elected to put Norths in to bat.

Norths opening batsman Wayne Wood, who led the competition with over 500 runs this season at an average of 36, loomed as the obvious danger man for the home team.

At the other end of the pitch was Muddies Adrian Bannerman, the leading wicket taker for the season with 35 wickets at 6.51.

The battle between the two was short lived, with Bannerman starting a collapse, dismissing Wood for 1.

From this point on, the seamers dominated the Norths batsman, with none of the visitors making double figures with eight being the highest score for any batsman.

Bannerman finished with 3 for 4 (7 overs), Jackson Hopkins 3 for 16 (6.2 overs), Doug Barnes 2 for 9 (7 overs) and Nick Rayner, 1 for 15 ( 7 overs) to have Norths all out for a well-below par 45 in the 28th over.

McCullough and Jayk Murphy opened the batting, aware that they had time to build an innings and had little scoreboards pressure them. The two applied themselves to the task at hand and saw off the opening spell of the dangerous Ben Bergamo.

Murphy got out trying to hit the ball out of the park and was caught at mid off for a well-constructed 13.

Evergreen Daniel Harris added 16 with the Skipper McCullough (12no) and Jayban Bannan guiding the team to victory in the 17th over.

It was a mighty win by the Muddies who led the competition from start to finish and thoroughly deserved the win after a hugely successful season.