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Tuesday 15 December
Harris steadies B Grade collapse while Mison hits out
A big game was at hand for the Court House Hotel Port Douglas B Grade cricket side on Sunday when they took on top of the table Rovers in the third one dayer of the 2009/2010 Season on what was a sweaty pitch as a result of the early heavy rain on a very hot day before the covers were removed.
Winning the toss this week, The Muddies chose to bat first, a decision which has been going well for the Muddies this season, by having runs on the board and a total to defend when bowling. After the great heroics by Dale Arnell and Keith Taylor last weekend, the top order was ready to set the pace for the game, but to Rovers credit some good bowling and bad shot play from some in the top order saw Rovers have Port struggling on 5 for 35 after the 14th over.
This brought, first gamer for the Muddies B Grade side for this season, Daniel Harris to the crease and after three blistering boundary's he was on his way to a great score and innings in the pressured middle overs with wickets falling all around him.
Harris was joined at the crease by Darryl Mison after three quick wickets had fallen, who has been determined all year to add a big batting score to his name to go along with his great bowling figures this year. And that he did!
Harris became the the very sure footed defender turning the strike over to Mison at any chance because anything coming off Mison's bat was going for four. Mison quickly caught up to Harris when they were both on 38, and then quickly passed him with a couple of big overs pasting the bowling of Rovers all over the very dry and sandy Griffith's Park No.2.
Mison then brought up his maiden Mudcrab 50 with a beautiful pull shot to the midwicket boundary. The crowd went wild and when Mison realised what all the cheering was about, he was just as delighted as the crowd and his team mates. Mison and Harris did not stop there with Harris also passing his maiden Mudcrab 50 only a couple of overs later with a delicate shot to backward point for a comfortable two runs. It was a fitting feat for Harris as it was a lovely innings coming in when the pressure was on and guiding the whole innings through the teams last ball.
Mison punished a further few overs before trying for extra runs and being caught at mid-on for a fine 71.
Harris was 61 not out when Port Douglas were bowled out for 195 off 49.4 overs which was an amazing fight back back Harris and then Mison when Port were reeling at 7 for 73.
Tony Gooding and Matt Schiesser opened the bowling for the Muddies and from the first ball they were on line and creating the pressure that was needed against the Rovers top order as they have done consistently for a number of years now.
When four wickets were taken between Gooding and Schiesser in the space of two overs by the superbly tight bowling, the Muddies were in the showing for a great win. However, when the Captain, McConnell changed the pace of the bowling, the mode of the game also changed which released the pressure off the Rovers batters and let them back in the game with 40 odd runs being hit off the next six overs.
Arnell came on after the drinks break with an injured back but managed to send down 5 maiden overs in a row and picking up the handy wicket of the Rovers Captain North for 13. Daniel Harris also had a shot at bowling and being in the fine form that he was it was only a matter of time before he picked up a couple of wickets. A couple of early balls were a bit off line but once he found his rhythm he created the miss hit and ended with 2 wickets and picked up player votes off the umpires.
Gooding and Schiesser came back on to bowl the final overs 'busting a gut' into the wind trying to get the last 2 wickets to win the game. Unfortunatley for the Muddies there were not enough runs on the board to defend and they ended losing in the 41st over by 2 wickets. Gooding ended with three great wickets and Schiesser picked up his regular two wickets for game. Go Muddies !
Next week sees Port Douglas B Grade Side play North-Cairns at Port Douglas Sporting Complex on the 20 December starting at 10am.