Round 11 is a two-day match at Memorial Park against top of the ladder Nathalia, which will continue next weekend.
Nathalia sit three points ahead of the third placed Rhinos.
With six points for a regular win, three points for an abandoned game, no points for a loss, things are close at the top of the ladder and two-day matches also allow for the opportunity for bonus points via an outright innings win.
Tomorrow’s match presents a chance for both teams to gain crucial ground in the race for the top ladder position and the minor premiership ahead of finals.
The finals for the MVCA A-grade will see first play fourth and second play third place in a two-day semi-final with the winners going on to play off in the grand final.
The two sides haven’t met in a two-day match in almost two years, but they faced off earlier in the season in a 45 over match at Nathalia.
In that match, the Rhinos won the toss and elected to bat.
Andrew Hogan top scored for the Rhinos with 52 not out and Matt Taylor also contributed with the bat with 30 off 35 balls, helping the Rhinos finish their 45 overs at 9/183.
Jason Mckenna was the primary wicket taker for Nathalia cleaning up the tail with 4/28 from seven overs, while Scotty Morris (2/28) and Dylan Cunningham (2/41) off their nine overs were the other multiple wicket-takers.
Then in reply, the Rhinos had Nathalia in early trouble at 3/5 but a steadying innings from Luke Quinn, top scoring with 81 off 94 balls, saw the run chase go down to Nathalia’s last wicket, reaching the total at 9/184 in the 41st over off extras.
Multiple wicket takers for the Rhinos included Prem Muppidi (2/4 off 2.5 overs), Andrew Hogan (2/25 off six overs), Brodie Bennett (2/38) and Matt Taylor (2/39) both off nine overs.
Despite the match across the next two weeks being a longer format game, the two teams again appear to be evenly matched.
Both teams should be well suited to the format, losing some of the fewest wickets across the one-day matches in the competition, the Rhinos losing 38 and Nathalia 45 wickets across the first ten rounds of the season.
It should be a cracking contest in Deni with teams keen to create some good two-day form, with outright victory points also a possibility.
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