By Steve Doble

WEEK two versus Barron River saw the Astute Financial Muddies C Grade resume at 0/2 chasing 131 for Victory.

Barron’s 60 year old veteran Peter Whitehead continued his impeccable in swing, line and length bowling, supported well at the other end by Taylor and Doble, who were determined to get their side progressing with a solid batting platform for the Muddies middle order to follow their natural stroke play. 

Runs were extremely miserly as a result until Keith (4) flayed at one outside off presenting mid off with a simple catch with the scores 1/7 off 12 overs. 

Walz entered and quickly got off the mark with a single, but after 22 overs Muddies were still just 17 runs, scoring at just one run an over. Changes to the bowling attack relieved some pressure with 14 coming off the next four overs before Doble (4) played across the line and was trapped LBW.

Simon Cody with good form was promoted to second drop and scored three boundaries off his first seven deliveries partnered by Walz (22), until the latter was amazingly caught by the slips fielder in his armpit taking the score to 3/72, the Muddies looking well on their way with 27 overs remaining. 

Gary Postans fresh from a bike accident managed just one via a leading edge catch to bring big hitting Darlington (34) to the crease who offered Cody great support in a 41 run stand taking Muddies to 4/117. 

Cody (44) defensively pushed with his bat clipping his pad to be adjudicated caught behind with the Muddies needing just 15 to win. Peter Whitehead and Hayden Slatery bowled maiden after maiden as the home teams’ wheels well and truly went wobbly. Pete finished with five consecutive maidens including three wickets from 17 overs, finishing with 4/13 as Muddies tail wag fell short by a single run. 

Slatery finished similar taking 4/30, conceding just three runs in his last three. Despite the loss the Muddies C Grade still finished as minor premier and this week will defend their title position in a semi final against Mareeba at Griffith Park in Cairns. The match will be played over Saturday and Sunday starting from 10am each day.