Tomorrow is round 14 of the Murray Valley Cricket Association’s A-grade competition - the final round before finals begin.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Ladder-leaders the Deni Rhinos are away taking on fourth-placed Katamatite Tigers.
While the result will not impact on the Rhinos’ appearance in finals, they will still be looking to maintain their brilliant run of results.
The Rhinos are a win clear at the top of the ladder, and due to second-placed Nathalia and third-placed Cobram playing this weekend, the Rhinos are all but guaranteed a top-two ladder finish.
The Rhinos always shape up well against the Tigers, who in their last three two-day matches have won against the third-placed Cobram but have also lost to second-placed Nathalia and sixth-placed Berrigan.
This will be the first time the two sides have faced each other this season.
The last time the two teams played was in a one-dayer last season at Barooga.
In that match, the Tigers won the toss electing to bat, scoring 8/165 after 45 overs.
Boddie Arthur (2/22), Prem Muppidi (2/36) and Manraj Virdi (2/39) were the multiple wicket-takers for the Rhinos in that game.
Andrew Erickson top-scored for the Tigers with 51 not out and Tyler Green scored 36.
Green is the Tigers’ top run-scorer this MVCA A-grade season, with 332 runs at an average of 41.5.
Meanwhile, Rhinos Boddie Arthur (34), Jonty Tubb (30) and Prem Muppidi (13 not out) were the only batters to make double figures in that one-dayer as the Rhinos were all out for 124 after 42 overs.
Andrew Erickson (3/21) and Ben Lukies (2/17) were the multiple wicket-takers for Katamatite helping their side to a 41 run victory.
The Rhinos will be keen to get a win back against their Tiger opposition before the finals.
The side that finishes top of the ladder will play the fourth placed finishing side in the finals.
Katamatite just hold on to the fourth-position over Barooga, who play at home against the last placed Finley starting tomorrow.
As such, Katamatite will need to win against the Rhinos in this two-day match or for Barooga to lose to Finley.
If not, Barooga will jump into fourth place and will face the minor premiers.
C-grade
The Rhinos are at home against sixth-placed Katunga tomorrow for the penultimate match before finals.
The two-sides have not played each other this season, with the previous round seven match scheduled in Katunga abandoned due to rain.
The last time the Rhinos played against Katunga was last season, at Strathmerton.
In that game, the Rhinos won the toss and elected to bowl.
Katunga scored 6/153 in their first innings.
Noah Bradley (2/20) and Tim Hillier (2/26) were the multiple wicket-takers for the Rhinos.
Matt Hodgetts (50 not out) and Nicholas Thorp (35) were the top-scorers for Katunga.
With the bat, the Rhinos chased down Katunga’s total in the final over, with top scorers Dushan Rathwatte (52 not out) and Tim Hillier (50 retired not out) helping the Rhinos home.
The Rhinos will be looking for a repeat of that match in the lead up to the finals.
The competition is very close, as there is less than two games the difference between second and sixth on the ladder with two games remaining.
Meanwhile, the Rhinos sit two games clear on top of the MVCA C-grade ladder.
Juniors
In the under-15s, the Rhinos have their final match of the season this week.
Last week they bowled Finley all out for 136 after 35.1 overs, but that wasn’t enough to defend their total of 81 off 30.1 overs the previous week.
Darcy Finn (2/9), Thomas Marshall (2/10), Archie Beehag (2/12) and Tynen Rothe (2/20) were the multiple wicket-takers for the Rhinos with several fielding efforts also involved in the wickets.
This week they look to finish the season at home on a high against Berrigan starting tomorrow at 8.30am.
In the under-13s, the second-placed Rhinos White were scheduled to play Berrigan yesterday evening in Deniliquin while the ladder-leaders Rhinos Red are set to play Katunga this afternoon in Finley, weather permitting.
Both teams are set to play each other next Friday in Deniliquin in a potential top-of-the-ladder match up.