Winning the toss Muddies Green had no hesitation in choosing to bat against the Mulgrave Punjabi at Edmonton on Sunday afternoon despite the true “greenness” of some of their ranks.

Doble and Darlington opened the batting and looked mentally well prepared to wear down the opposition bowlers.

Finally, Darlington (10) opened his shoulders for the first boundary but despite his partner’s reminder to select the right shots he threw his bat at a wide delivery spooning a catch to gully.

Thwaite (1) was working on his foot movement but similarly threw away his wicket with the score on 28.

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Enter 15 year old batsmen Hayden D’Adonna who set about consolidating an average team start with Doble who took 26 deliveries to get off the mark, but was very collected in leaving the poor deliveries and dispatching a couple of lovely cover drives and hook shots before a leading edge on 12 brought out another newcomer to Muddies seniors in Daniel Redfern (21).

The two combined for a 29 run stand, followed by D’Adonna (15) and Port Douglas Primary School teacher and coach Doug Barnes combining for a 20 run partnership.

Barnes (24) showed his absence from competition cricket but still top scored with a few well-placed and lusty drives demonstrating what he has to offer with a bit more match practice.

A procession of wickets fell before two more 15 year olds – Nathan Evans (6) and Kaiden Sorensen (12no) combined for a 21 run last wicket stand, all out 131.

Doble suggested the opposition would “go hard” at the ball and the team agreed on aiming for 3/30 at the end of the day’s play.

Punjabi obliged smashing 22 off the first three overs before Sorensen was rewarded with two “top of off” bowled wickets and Thwaite chipped in with catches to two other 15 year olds - Nathan Evans and new keeper Ethan McCulloch.

That left the Punjabi team, who were otherwise very vocal, completely silent at 4/37 at stumps off 12 overs.