By Steve Doble

The opening match of the Cairns Cricket season saw a replay of the grand final of last season.

Typically, last season's winners would step up a grade but with FIFO players and juniors stepping to senior ranks Mareeba stayed in the lower level.

The strength of their batting, however looked unaltered on a lightning fast outfield that saw the ball just run and run and run! Mareeba chose to bat and Muddies with a depleted first game attack set about their difficult task, Cody and Leo bowling fairly good lines before Shulz troubled R Taylor on 19 of Mareeba's 59 and produced a jaffer of a ball, bowled.

Following this Doble should have had Adams caught behind but it was eventually Redfern soon after drinks who produced Adams' skied catch to Cody's safe hands for 53, 2/90.

Mareeba's skipper Payne who destroyed some poor bowling at the end of last season continued where he left off.

The odd mis-hit landed safely and he powered as Muddies rotated their bowlers, but it was Tom Goodall who stepped up to Payne who edged from 98 to 100 before Tom beat him all ends up, stumped by Taig.

The runs continued to flow after a few wickets that saw Mareeba 3/216 to be 8/239 as the young tailenders showed their 55 run partnership's worth, ending the day at 8/294 and giving Muddies a big target with what is a great looking batting line up for next week. 

Leo 3/44. Redfern 2/72, Shulz 1/38, Goodall 2/48.