Second century for French

The game was in some doubt due to the heavy storms on Friday afternoon.

Water had gone under the covers at the golf club end of the pitch, leaving a large wet patch right on the bowling crease over the wicket.

The outfield was also very wet but the players worked hard to dry out the pitch, to enable play.

Providing assistance were Andrew and Mitch Jefferies from Deni Party Hire, who provided some blowers to help dry things out.

The umpire was satisfied enough had been done for play to go ahead, but with a later start of 1.30pm.

This saw the game reduced to a 40-over game.

Deniliquin won the toss and decided to bat first.

The pitch itself was fine and the outfield would dry as the game went on.

Boddie Arthur and Griegan French had the Rhinos off to a flyer with 44 runs in eight overs.

The Tocumwal bowlers were short, allowing the batters to score at will.

Arthur was adjudged LBW to Tom Oliver for 14.

Andrew Hogan joined French and the pair added 83 runs in 16 overs.

Hogan was particularly aggressive, taking 14 runs off the 14th over.

Hogan was bowled by Liam Sutton for 42 (51 balls).

The Rhinos were 2-127 off 24 overs.

Hogan’s dismissal brought the dangerous Brodie Bennett to the crease.

The Rhinos did not lose another wicket and added 104 runs in the final 16 overs.

French brought up his second century for the season in the last over of the innings.

French finished unbeaten on 101 off 124 balls, which included seven boundaries.

The highlights of French’s century included his cover drives, lofted straight drives and his ability to find the gaps (including 33 singles).

French is currently the highest run scorer in the MVCA this season, with 420 runs at an average of 70.

Bennett was also unbeaten on 60 (40 balls) with three fours and five sixes.

Bennett cleared the fence five times, but the highlight was a six that landed on the roof of the change rooms and finished just before the netball courts.

The outfield was very slow due to the water.

Without doubt the Rhinos would have scored another 50 runs had the outfield been dry.

A large number of shots were hit into the outfield, but did not roll across the boundary.

Tocumwal took to the bat and lost an early wicket when Peter Harrison was spectacularly caught and bowled by Hogan.

The batter smashed a straight drive back at Hogan, who was able to take most of the speed off the ball and dive full length behind him to catch the ball one-handed, centimetres off the ground.

Andrew Lean continued his good form against the Rhinos, scoring 28.

Lachlan Holloway forced the mistake from Lean as he tried to lift the run rate.

Dushan Rathwatte had the Tocumwal captain, Reilly Rennick, trapped in front and Tocumwal had slumped to 3-65 in the 21st over.

The required run rate then became nearly nine runs per over.

Charlie Paton dismissed Oliver (20) when he skied one to Arthur at mid-on.

Matt Taylor was reintroduced into the attack and clean bowled Cooper Harris.

Monte Barnes bowled with good pace and tested the Tocumwal batters with several short balls.

Josh Wraight knicked one to Jonty Tubb and Monte Barnes had his first wicket for the season in A-grade.

Tom White offered plenty of resistance before being bowled by Paton for 11.

Rowan Frazer had Hayden White trapped LBW for 11.

Tocumwal finished at 8-114 off their 40 overs.

The Rhinos won by 117 runs.

The MVCA A-grade ladder is as follows: Nathalia 42 points, Cobram 42, Deniliquin 39, Katamatite 33, Barooga 12, Tocumwal 12, Berrigan 12, Finley 0.