The Cats’ win in the last round match of the Murray Valley Cricket Association Division One season, secured second spot on the ladder heading into finals.
After losing the toss and being sent in to bowl at home, the Rhinos sent in Mitchell Jefferies (18) and Chris Pyle (nine) who were able to get their side off to a 21 run start despite an opening ball drop catch from Dan Hughes in the slips.
The line and length bowling of Anthony King (1/13 off six) and Matt Wilson (0/19 off eight) made each run hard to come by however, and it wasn’t long before Pyle fell to a short ball from King, caught in the outfield by Paul Massingham.
This brought run making Premier batsman Andrew Hogan (41) in, still on the mend from injury, who did the major damage for the Rhinos.
Hogan started off strong, finding the middle of the bat often and early.
Jefferies and Hogan were able to put on another 25 runs, all from running between the wickets, before Jefferies fell to a catch at long-on by Russell Anderson off the bowling of Massingham (2/28 off eight).
Massingham’s wicket taking form continued the next ball with Charlie Hillier falling for a duck.
Hogan and Harry Hillier (17) continued to push the score onward reaching 3/84 before Cats’ young gun Archie Mason (3/10 off six) broke the pair, leading to the fall of the Rhinos’ middle order with Harry falling first, followed by Anthony Bradley for a duck.
Not long after a mix up between the batsmen saw the run out of Kai Hillier (0) when Cats’ teenager Harrison King ran the ball in himself to take the bails off.
Hogan was the next to fall after a short 14 run burst for the Rhinos with Tim Hillier (nine) down the other end, Mason again coming up with bowling brilliance to take Hogan’s prized wicket.
Cats captain Murray Urquhart was able to ensure the run chase did not get out of hand, taking the final wickets of Tim Hillier and Stephen Marshall (eight) in between a direct hit throw from Dan Hughes in gully that saw the dismissal of Tom McCallum (one).
All 111 runs off 36 overs from the Rhinos, come from running between the wickets with the slow outfield not allowing any boundaries.
Having proven form in the previous three matches from the Cats’ top order, the home side was confident they could make the runs.
Rhinos opening bowlers Kai (2/33 off 7.5) and Hogan (1/9 off eight) had something to say about it, striking often and early alongside captain Pyle (2/25 off six).
Opening batsman, Ryan Donkin (one) was sent in to open the batting alongside strike batsman Russell Anderson (7), Donkin not lasting long before falling to Kai in the first over.
Anderson and Ben Spence (10) did their best to weather the storm before Kai and Pyle struck three times, all for the fall of 0 runs, halting any momentum with the score 4/25.
Middle order batsman Matthew Wilson (nine) and Massingham (31) were able to put on a short 15 run partnership before Wilson fell off a turning ball from Pyle that struck the stumps directly.
Hughes (16) and Massingham held the wickets up, slowly keeping the run chase ticking over, putting on 46 runs until Massingham was struck on the pads off the bowling of Charlie Hillier (1/12 off eight).
A fall of another wicket shortly after had the Rhinos back in the driving seat as the Cats fell to 7/87 past the 30 over mark.
The bizzare fall of Hughes, ducking a ball that took the top of the bails, off of the bowling of Lachie Barrett (2/7 off three) had the Cats chasing 12 runs to win with just two wickets in hand.
Two runs later the fall of Harrison King (nine) sent in his father Anthony (seven not out) along with Callum Campbell (four not out) who saw the scores level with two overs remaining.
Kai Hillier was reinserted in to the bowling attack with the Rhinos needing a wicket to enforce a draw, however a lofted hook shot from Anthony King saw Finley run three to finish 9/114 off 39 overs.
This week’s semi finals are to be played at Katamatite and Tocumwal, with the Rhinos set to face Katunga, while Finley will take on Katamatite.
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