All eyes were on Memorial Park on Saturday as Deniliquin hosted Cobram in a top-of-the-table clash, which also doubled as a grand final rematch from last season.
With both sides claiming two wins from their first two matches, top spot on the ladder was up for grabs, and redemption for last season’s loss in the decider was added incentive for the Rhinos, who elected to bat after winning the toss.
But it was Cobram that made the quick start, dismissing Deniliquin opener Hamish Baker via a run out to have the home side down 1-15 early, and while the Rhinos rallied to get to the half century without any further loss, two quick wickets to Lachlan Hyde and Tyron Baden saw the Tigers get on top and reduce Deniliquin to 3-59.
A similar pattern emerged as Deniliquin put on 33 runs for the fourth wicket to get within touching distance of the 100-run mark, but a pair of Noah Sneddon wickets saw Cobram restrict the home side even further, reducing Deniliquin from 3-92 to 5-100, which became 6-100 soon after as a Daniel Ellis run out removed opposing co-captain Boddie Arthur.
Some late order runs ensured Deniliquin posted a solid total, however, with a 41-run stand for the seventh wicket and a further 29 runs for the eighth wicket powering the Rhinos to a total of 7-170 from 45 overs, with Cobram letting Deni escape somewhat after being in a commanding position.
Sneddon was the only Tigers bowler to snare multiple wickets, finishing with figures of 2-17, while Tyron Baden (1-11), Jeremy Baden (1-28) and Lachlan Hyde (1-48) rounding out the wicket takers.
With 171 needed for victory, Ellis and Bodey Webb strode out to the crease to get Cobram’s chase under way, trundling along to 25 before Webb found himself trudging to the pavilion for nine, while Ellis departed the following over to leave the Tigers in a precarious position at 2-27.
Lachlan Hyde and Shaun Downie found themselves at the crease, and began to tick the runs off, combining for a 43-run stand; however, disaster struck as the total reached 70.
Lachlan Hyde was caught when on 13, reducing Cobram to 3-70, while his replacement, Hugh Hyde, lasted just six deliveries and added two runs before he was trapped in front, as the Tigers fell to 4-73.
Adam De Cicco came and went without even facing a ball, run out for a rare diamond duck, while Eamon Hyde faced six deliveries without troubling the scorers before he too was back in the sheds, as Cobram slumped to 6-76.
Tyron Baden joined Downie in the middle and the pair attempted to calm things down, which they succeeded in doing, adding 55 runs to correct course and drag Cobram past 130 runs before Baden was caught, leaving the game on a knife’s edge with the Tigers 7-131.
Rocco Anastasio failed to add any runs before he was dismissed, leaving Cobram needing 40 runs with two wickets in hand, but the real blow came when Downie was dismissed for 69, bowled by Joice Mathew, leaving number 10 Jeremy Baden and number 11 Sneddon to hit 34 runs if Cobram were to win.
They managed just five, with the Tigers bowled out for 142 in an entertaining clash that saw Mathew’s spell yield 4-28 to guide Deniliquin to the win by 28 runs, and with it the top spot on the ladder.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Katamatite claimed its first win of the season with a seven-wicket victory over Katunga at Katamatite Recreation Reserve.
Ewan Wilson claimed 4-21 for the Tigers to help restrict Katunga to 10-144 from 44.3 overs, before an unbeaten 43 from Brandon Nicholls and a patient 38 at the top of the order from Oliver Mynard blasted Katamatite to the win inside 34 overs.
Nathalia looked on course for victory against Tocumwal after some astonishing batting, but had to settle for a draw after the match was abandoned.
Sent in to bat at Tocumwal Recreation Reserve, Nathalia blasted a huge 5-285 from its 45 overs, with Gus Frostick belting 85 and Scotty Morris 92 from 92 deliveries to help post the intimidating total.
Morris backed up his performance with the bat by claiming 4-16 with the ball as Nathalia had Tocumwal at 8-145 before the game was called off.
The disappointment of Saturday was rectified on Sunday, however, as Nathalia was the only team to register a win on a rain-affected day, claiming a two-run victory over Deniliquin at Memorial Park.
Posting 5-94 after batting first, again led by Morris who made an unbeaten 32, Nathalia rolled the Rhinos for 92 in reply, with Dylan Cunningham snaring 4-16 in the process, an emphatic display that has announced Nathalia as a serious contender for the crown this season.
In other matches, Katunga managed 5-140 from 32 overs before the contest against Barooga was washed out, while Tocumwal and Katamatite didn’t see a single ball of action in their clash.
