Last Thursday evening in round 12 of the Murray Valley Cricket Association A-grade had the Rhinos playing Finley in a T20 fixture at Finley.
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A danger game for the top-of-the-ladder Rhinos against the bottom-of-the-ladder Cats, particularly in the shortened format.
Starting at 6.15pm, it was unusually cool and overcast for late January.
Finley won the toss and batted first.
The opening pair of Kane Hawkins and Archie Mason had Finley on top early, adding 35 runs in the first five overs with two boundaries and playing their shots over and through the infield, looking surprisingly ominous.
However, it was the fast wrist spin of Lachlan Holloway that dismissed Mason (21 off 21 balls) when he top edged a sweep shot and skied the ball into the safe hands of Andrew Hogan.
Hawkins kept the run rate going with aggressive batting with several audacious T20 shots, including reverse sweeps against spin and pace and an innovative ramp shot.
After 10 overs, Finley were in a strong position at 1-64.
The introduction of Brodie Bennett had immediate results, with Cougar McGrath (7) caught safely by Matt Taylor.
Bennett struck again in his second over, Wilkinson (2) caught by the wicket keeper, Jonty Tubb.
Jack Tonta had Hawkins (46 off 38 balls) caught by Griegan French at deep square leg.
Finley had slumped to 4-85 with six overs remaining.
From there the Cats’ aggressive batting depth fell away as the Cats batters tried to knock it around and get quick starts but were unable to as the Rhinos’ premier bowlers and good fielding restricted the Cats batsman on the big Finley ground.
Bennett and Taylor had put the brakes on the Finley scoring.
Tonta took his second wicket when he bowled Massingham (3).
The 17th and 18th overs saw Finley only score four runs and one run respectively.
Taylor had Harrison King clean bowled (3).
Justin Crowley (9) was dismissed on the last ball of the innings.
Bennett finished with the impressive figures of 3-8 off his four overs.
Taylor was also economical, taking 1-8 off his four overs.
Finley finished at 7-102 after their 20 over innings.
The Rhinos were pleased to reduce Finley to 102 given the good start Finley had.
In reply, the Rhinos came out to assert their position and chase down the total.
Hawkins opened the bowling for the Cats and continued his good form this time with the ball striking in the first over.
Monte Barnes tried to go over mid-off, but Massingham held the catch, leaving the Rhinos 1-9.
Kai Hillier hit his third ball off Mason for six over square leg.
Opener French kept the early momentum going, taking eight runs off the third over.
Mason would get his payback as Hillier (7) was well caught at the long-on boundary by Harrison King in the next over and the Rhinos were 2-28 off four overs.
Bennett joined French at a crucial stage of the innings, as the conditions were dark as the lights were taking effect.
The pair added 21 runs in the 5th and 6th overs to put the Rhinos in a strong position.
Harrison King bowled a full toss to French (23 runs off 23 balls) who hit the ball into the hands of Mason at the deep mid-wicket boundary for a good running catch.
The Rhinos were now 3-49 off seven overs.
Brad Todd joined Bennett and the powerful and experienced pair took total control of the game, scoring 54 runs off seven overs to win the game (3-103).
The pretty well full-strength Rhinos won the game with five overs remaining.
The pair played fairly risk-free cricket as Bennett was unbeaten on 40 (28 balls) with four fours and one big six over long-on, while Todd was 23 off 29 balls with two fours.
Bennett was named the best for the Rhinos, while the new recruit, Kane Hawkins, was best for Finley.
The win was the 8th in a row for the Rhinos, who maintained their top spot on the ladder with two rounds remaining.
In the other matches in the MVCA A-grade round 12, Cobram at home beat Tocumwal by 72 runs, Nathalia won away by six wickets with two overs left against Katamatite and Barooga away beat Berrigan by 32 runs
Round 13 sees Deniliquin host the third-placed Cobram in a two-day match starting next Saturday.
This is the match of the round as both teams chase a top two finish, which could be important if weather plays a part during the finals.
Barooga play Nathalia in a must win match if they are to play finals this year.
Similarly, Nathalia will also want to win, chasing a top two ladder position.
Katamatite also play Berrigan at Katamatite.
If Katamatite lose, it may open the door for Barooga to take fourth spot on the ladder.
The final game has Tocumwal playing Finley, and it promises to be a close game.
MVCA A-grade Ladder: Rhinos 68.14 points. Nathalia 64.70, Cobram 64.22. Katamatite 48.57, Barooga 40.96, Berrigan 26.15, Tocumwal 17.46, Finley 5.52.