Teenage cricketer Fletcher Campion had a weekend to remember, making his A-grade debut for the Deniliquin Rhinos in an important game on Saturday.
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To top it off, he also took his first A-grade wicket.
Normally in the under-15s line-up, Campion was one of the debutants in the roster for day one of the two day game.
Lachlan Marshall was also called up from C-grade to help the Rhinos in their round 14 clash against Barooga.
For the trip to Barooga, the Rhinos has to find replacements for three players.
Jake and Dean Herberte were both unavailable, while Anthony Bradley returned to captain the C-grade team.
Jonty Tubb came back into the team after injury.
The pitch was in excellent order and the outfield fast.
Coupled with 35 plus degrees, it was a toss the Rhinos really wanted to win.
Unfortunately, the Rhinos toss curse continued and Barooga had no hesitation in electing to bat.
The Rhinos started well having Barooga veteran Justin Maley (1) caught behind by keeper Peter Wilson.
Andrew Hogan continued his excellent form from recent weeks, but Cameron Nye and Kale Watkins were aggressive and took the score to 67 at drinks (18 overs).
Hogan swung one back in late to the left handed Nye (23) to end his innings.
The English import, Ben Beaumont (11), was looking to play his shots but knicked a cut shot to the keeper.
Wilson held the catch and Barooga were 3/98 after 26 overs.
Hogan was set for another marathon spell with the ball, and was very hard to score off.
Watkins was not getting a lot of the strike as the Rhinos dried up the runs.
He was dismissed for 71 after being adjudged LBW to Hogan.
Watkins’ innings included 10 boundaries and one six.
Will Sharp joined Jamie Stanyer and was looking to raise the run rate. The pair added 79 runs in just 15 overs.
Sharp (58) was caught at deep mid-off by Tubb off the leg spin of Lachlan Holloway.
Sharp’s innings included six boundaries and one six.
Tubb showed he has a great set of hands even when not wicket keeping.
Stanyer suffered a leg injury, which is a major worry for Barooga with finals looming.
Stanyer batted on to make his half century before retiring hurt.
Mitchell Richmann (2) tried the big shot against Hogan but skied the ball into the safe hands of the debutant, Lachlan Marshall.
It resulted in another five wicket haul for Hogan.
Hugh Sutton was bowled by Holloway not long after, and Barooga had slumped to 7/228.
The Rhinos would have liked to wrap up the Barooga tail enders, but this was not to be.
Johno Oliver and Cooper Adkins added 30 runs for the eighth wicket.
It was then that Campion captured his first A-grade wicket, having Oliver caught by the keeper at a short backward square leg.
It was a nice running catch by Wilson, who was having a great day behind the wickets.
Adkins and James Hooper added 36 runs to take Barooga to 294.
The pair batted well and were very impressive with their running between the wickets.
Hogan finished the innings and his marathon spell, having Adkins (35) caught behind.
Hooper finished unbeaten on 12.
With Stanyer unable to return, the Barooga innings was closed at 294.
It was another super human effort by Hogan, who bowled unchanged in the heat.
His figures were 38.3 overs, 11 maidens and six wickets for 97.
Holloway took two wickets and Campion one.
Barooga batted for 77 overs, which meant the Rhinos had to bat for a tricky three overs.
Boddie Arthur hit a boundary through point to get the Rhinos underway.
The Rhinos finished the day at 0-10 with Arthur on six not out and Hillier on zero not out.
“While the Rhinos are chasing a big score, the pitch is very good to bat on,” coach John Arthur said.
“If you can beat the infield, it is probably going for four.
“The Barooga lower order showed us what can be achieved if you can play straight and run hard.”
Boddie Arthur (261 runs for the season), Hillier (210) and Hogan (360) will all be looking to finish the season with a big score.
Tubb will be looking for runs while Wilson will be looking to build on his last innings against Berrigan.
Dean Herberte comes in next week under the substitution rule and will add to the Rhinos’ batting depth.
In other MVCA A-grade matches, Katamatite have Tocumwal 5/43 chasing their 7/261 (declared).
Cobram are 6/279 after bowling Finley out for just 50.
Cobram are well placed to return to the top four and play finals.
They may chase the outright win to guarantee this.
Nathalia posted 9/324 against Berrigan.
Berrigan will need to chase this down and hope Finley do not lose outright to have any chance of retaining fourth position on the ladder.