Rhinos lose in last wicket thriller

Monte Barnes was promoted for his first A-grade game.

The Nathalia wicket was in perfect order and the outfield was quick which promised value for shots.

Boddie Arthur won the toss for the Rhinos, and he had no hesitation in batting first.

He and Griegan French, as the opening pair, looked solid again.

Arthur started the innings with a powerful pull shot for four in the first over.

The pair added 34 before French (9) was dismissed in the 10th over.

Brenton Campbell held the sharp chance at cover.

Arthur (24) was adjudged LBW shortly after. The Rhinos were 2-40 after 11 overs.

Andrew Hogan and Brad Nihill added 51 for the third wicket to put the Rhinos in a good position.

Nihill was dismissed for 26 when he hit a low full toss to point. His innings included five boundaries.

Brad Todd (7) knicked one through to the keeper, which had the Rhinos at a 4-101 (27 overs).

The Rhinos run rate was still above four runs per over.

Noah Bradley (1) was bowled by the off spinner trying to force the run rate.

At 5-104 the innings total was in the hands of Hogan.

Brodie Bennett looked ominous with two boundaries. When he was adjudged LBW to the medium pace of Jason McKenna, the Rhinos were at 6-116 and on shaky ground.

Matt Taylor partnered with Andrew Hogan, with the pair adding 54 runs between overs 31 and 42.

Taylor’s lofted six straight down the ground was the shot of the game.

The quick singles taken by the pair was worthy of a mention.

Taylor was dismissed for 30, followed by Monte Barnes (2) and Lachlan Holloway (0).

Prem Reddy (3 not out) and Hogan (52 not out) closed the Rhinos innings at 9-183.

McKenna finished up with 4-28, with two wickets apiece to Scott Morris and Dylan Cunningham.

The Rhinos would have been happy with 183, but the Nathalia team have many dangerous quick scoring batters.

With the ball, the Rhinos were on fire in the opening overs.

Bennett had Scotty Morris (4) trapped LBW in the second over.

Hogan held a sensational catch at first slip to dismiss Ewen Conguess first ball for 0.

Bennett had 2-1 off just three balls.

Taylor struck in the next over bowling the opener, Rory Knight and Nathalia was 3-5 off 13 balls.

Luke Quinn and Campbell looked dangerous and in total control for Nathalia.

Campbell (15) advanced down the pitch to Nihill but missed the ball and was bowled.

McKenna joined Quinn and added 59 runs for the fifth wicket at a solid five runs per over.

Nathalia were 5-102 after only 20 overs.

It was clear that the Rhinos would need to bowl out Nathalia to win, such was the run rate.

Hogan’s introduction into the bowling attack had immediate success with Brady Walpole caught by Todd at short cover.

Quinn was in total control and only needed partners to win the game.

Archie Congues (21) was caught and bowled by Hogan and Nathalia were now 7-153, needing 31 runs to win.

Dylan Cunningham was looking for boundaries but was caught at deep mid-wicket by Barnes.

A handy wicket maiden by Prem Reddy had Nathalia at 8-177.

Reddy had Quinn caught behind for 81 in his next over.

Quinn’s half century included 10 fours and two sixes, and Nathalia had slumped to 9-178.

The Rhinos had a couple of close LBW appeals and a very tight run out, but could not get the required wicket.

The Nathalia pair scored the required six runs to win the game.

The Rhinos bowlers shared the wickets with two each to Taylor, Bennett, Hogan and Reddy.

MVCA A-grade ladder: Cobram 24, Nathalia 18, Rhinos 15, Katamatite 15, Berrigan 12, Barooga 6, Tocumwal 6, Finley 0.