After a down day last Saturday, the Deni Rhinos Murray Valley Cricket Association A-grade side will look to regroup in the second day of their two-day match away against Katamatite.
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The Rhinos are bowling with Katamatite 1/140 off 35 overs following the Rhinos’ innings of all out for 104 after 45 overs.
Katamatite bowled well in the first innings, with Kepler Lukies the leading wicket-taker with figures of 5/16 off 13 overs.
Harry Hillier was the top-scorer for the Rhinos, scoring 48 off 91 balls and one of three players to make double figures, alongside Boddie Arthur and Matt Taylor.
Then in reply with the bat, Katamatite was aggressive, with Tyler Green and Kepler Lukies both remaining on 56 not out during strong wind gusts seeing Katamatite into a winning position.
The side were missing some players but the three batters for the Rhinos who have scored at least 400 runs this season out of the five in the league, Griegan French, Brodie Bennett, Andrew Hogan all unusually missed out with the bat.
Meanwhile, the Rhinos’ bowling and fielding will also look to step up this week after Katamatite chased their total so quickly.
It is a reality check for the Rhinos, who currently sit as the top-placed team ahead of finals next week.
The Rhinos will be looking to avoid an outright defeat, while fourth-placed Katamatite may need an outright victory to make the finals.
Fifth-placed Barooga are 6/308 after bowling out Finley for 81 in the first week of their match last Saturday.
Barooga will be aiming to complete an outright victory this week to give themselves a chance of finishing in the top four.
In the other match that may affect finals placements, third-placed Cobram are currently 4/93 chasing second-placed Nathalia’s 115 all out from last week.
C-grade
The Rhinos C-grade side play Katamatite tomorrow, at home.
The Rhinos side is top-of-the-ladder following Katunga’s forfeit for their Saturday’s match last week.
Katamatite are in seventh-place in C-grade with one win for the season but will be looking to create an upset to end their season on a high.
Meanwhile, the Rhinos will look to prepare for the finals next week with a good match tomorrow.
The Rhinos could play any of Cobram, Strathmerton, Nathalia and Tocumwal in the first week of finals depending on how results fall.
Cobram are playing away against Strathmerton and Nathalia are home against Tocumwal.
Juniors
The Rhinos under-15s will finish their match at home tomorrow morning against Berrigan Saints, in the final round of the season.
The Saints made 8/137 off 40 overs batting first last weekend.
Jordan Swann top-scored with 61 off 83 balls, and Lachlan Packer was the other double-figure scorer for the Saints with 30 off 39 balls.
Fletcher Campion was the only multiple wicket-taker for the Rhinos, taking 2/16 off six overs.
However, there were seven different individual wicket-takers, with eleven bowlers getting a chance to bowl.
The Rhinos will look to finish their season with a win tomorrow.
The Rhinos under-13s White and under-13s Red are set to play this afternoon at Memorial Park.
Both sides have been near the top-of-the-ladder all season.
Rhinos White’s game against Berrigan at home last Thursday was abandoned due to rain, with Berrigan 6/30 after 16 overs.
There were six different wicket takers for the Rhinos, with 12 bowlers getting a bowl after the Rhinos won the toss and elected to bowl.
Meanwhile, Rhinos Red lost to Katunga at Finley last week following some good bowling from Katunga.
The Rhinos won the toss and chose to bowl, with Katunga scoring 6/86 off 20 overs.
In reply, the Rhinos were held to 8/69 off 20 overs.
Both Rhinos White and Red will be looking to finish the season with a win in a good showcase across the weekend of junior cricket at the club.
In the MVCA Under-17s, Barooga and Katunga will face-off in the grand final this Sunday.
Two Deniliquin Rhinos juniors, Hamish Baker and Charlie McCallum, joined the Barooga side when the Rhinos did not have the numbers to field a local team this season.
It will be played from 10.30am on Sunday at Barooga with both players a key part of their semi-final win last Sunday over Cobram.