The Rhinos won a tight game against Nathalia on Saturday in Round 11 of the MVCA A-grade competition, and have now moved to top spot on the ladder.
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The game had plenty of twists and turns, but ultimately the batting of Harry Hillier (56), Griegan French (41 not out) and Andrew Hogan (66) took the Rhinos past Nathalia’s 204.
The Rhinos resumed their innings at 3-50, needing 155 runs for victory.
The not out batters were Harry Hillier (27) and Matt Taylor (10).
The pair added another 12 runs before Taylor (19) was bowled by an out swinger from Dylan Cunningham.
Boddie Arthur hit a short ball from Ash Quinn to the fine leg boundary.
Arthur (7) tried to repeat the shot but was brilliantly caught by James Vallender at backward square leg.
Nathalia were on top, having the Rhinos at 5-81.
Hillier was batting superbly with combinations of drives and pull shots.
Griegan French, the league leading run scorer, joined Hillier with the Rhinos still needing 124 runs for victory.
Hillier bought up his half century just before the first drinks break.
The drinks break worked in Nathalia’s favour, with Harry Hillier (56) edging one from Ash Quinn.
The wicket-keeper, Luke Quinn, held the catch low down to his right.
The Rhinos were now 6-102, needing a further 103 runs for victory.
Nathalia implemented a defensive 7-2 field (seven fielders on the off-side) in an attempt to curb French’s run scoring.
The pair started the chase for victory cautiously, with Quinn bowling many maidens.
The duo were picking up singles off the off-spinner, Scott Morris.
To show the quality of the bowling, French and Hogan added 15 runs in their first nine overs together.
The Rhinos were winning the game of patience, being 6-144 after 62 overs (40 for the day).
Hogan turned on some absolute aggressive brilliance in the 63rd over, taking Quinn for 20 runs.
Two big sixes over the bowlers head had the supporters cheering.
Momentum had swung the Rhinos way, with the Nathalia total now in sight.
The Rhinos went to the tea break at 6-193, needing 11 runs for victory.
Hogan continued the aggression in the first over after tea, scoring consecutive boundaries and taking the Rhinos past the imposing 204.
Hogan was eventually bowled for 66 (97 balls) including six fours and two sixes.
Brodie Bennett and Nick Fogo were both bowled going for the big shot, while French remained unbeaten on 41 (126 balls).
Ash Quinn was the pick of the Nathalia bowlers.
Quinn bowled 25 overs, 15 maidens, and took 3-43.
Nathalia had a short second innings to finish the day.
Cunningham smashed the Rhinos bowlers, scoring 45 off 20 balls (three sixes and five fours).
Matt Taylor bowled Luke Quinn (20) to have two wickets while Fogo, Lachlan Holloway and Kai Hillier all picked up a wicket.
Nathalia finished at 5-86.
In other MVCA A-grade matches, Katamatite caused an upset by defeating Cobram.
Katamatite resumed at 5-40, chasing Cobram’s 63.
Katamatite were 9-60 but managed to get the win.
Berrigan had a big win over Finley, with Matt Ross scoring a century in both innings (134 and 100).
Barooga secured a close outright victory over Tocumwal.
Tocumwal were 8-147 in their second innings, needing 162 to win the game.
Tocumwal were dismissed for 152 giving Barooga the valuable 10 points for the outright victory.
Round 12 of MVCA A-grade is a 20-20 game this Thursday night against Finley (at Finley) with a 6.15pm start.
The Rhinos coach, John Arthur, was quick to highlight that anybody can win these games.
“This round is a danger game, such is the nature of 20-20 cricket.”
“All it takes is one Finley player to have a brilliant game with the bat, and they could post 150 plus.”
“Ladder positions mean nothing, and this is an absolute must win game.
“The boys are fully aware we also have games remaining against Cobram (third) and Katamatite (fourth).”
The MVCA A-grade ladder is as follows: Rhinos 62.14 points, Nathalia 58.70, Cobram 58.23, Katamatite 48.57, Barooga 30.96, Berrigan 26.15, Tocumwal 17.46, Finley 5.52.
The MVCA A-grade top five run-scorers are: Griegan French (Deniliquin) 539, Matt Ross (Berrigan) 393, Andrew Hogan (Deniliquin) 337, Luke Quinn (Nathalia) 307 and Shaun Downie (Cobram) 303.
The MVCA A-grade top five wicket-takers: Matt Taylor (Deniliquin) 23, Jacob Bartlett (Berrigan) 19, Andrew Hogan (Deniliquin) 18, Brenton Campbell (Nathalia) 18, Dylan Cunningham (Nathalia) 18 and Jeremy Baden (Cobram) 18.
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