It's a sunny day at Rhino's CG for this match between Fighting Mongooses and Rhinos. The report from the middle says this pitch is slow and could make batting difficult.
Moodley has won the toss and he has sent Rhinos in. Is that a risk? Surely they've given away the best of the conditions. Moodley on the subject: "We think we should be able to chase anything they can set on this wicket, so we are backing our planning and banking on a low target. We're going all out for wickets today, so there will be time for caution in the chase"
Miah takes the new ball. Right arm over the wicket.
0.1 W Miah to Grogan
His score will advance no further, Grogan has edged that ball onto the stumps. Good allround bowling peformance there from Miah.
What a start! 1/1 after that over. Mametsa to share in the new ball.
1.2 W Mametsa to Miller
Edged and gone! A crackerjack of a delivery from Mametsa! That did just enough and Miller feathers an edge through to Cloete, who makes no mistake.
Oh and another one! Moodley wasn't kidding. Two wickets for six.
It seems they've settled down now, 2/34 after seven overs. Mametsa again.
7.1 4 Mametsa to Lewington
Lewington has punished that straight past Barton in the covers.
7.2 4 Mametsa to Lewington
Nicely picked up off the toes to a vacant square leg boundary.
That over helped the run rate somewhat. 13 runs in total. Miah returns for the 9th over.
8.1 . Miah to Lewington
The crowd liked that ball, very quick and left well alone.
8.2 6 Miah to Lewington
New ball please! That has soared out of the ground and into the nearby river! Massive hit!
8.3 1 Miah to Lewington
Nicely flicked around to fine leg for the single.
8.4 1 Miah to Speed
Lifting delivery, late cut to deep backward point region for an easy single.
8.5 4 Miah to Lewington
Up and over! It was banged in short, outside off stump and Lewington carved it brilliantly over point. That one was deliberately hit in the air.
8.6 4 Miah to Lewington
A solid drive screams away wide of long on. Pure timing.
Ouch! Has Moodley's plan backfired? His bowlers are copping a bit of their own medicine out there. 2/63 (9.0), with Lewington racing to 42.
The medium pace of Sheppard now, hopefully to take some momentum away from the batsmen.
Did you not see it? It was a quick over, a maiden.
13.6 4 Sheppard to Lewington
Down the leg side and Lewington just helps it on its way to the fence for four.
And that's his fifty! Well played.
Lewington's 52 comes in just 46 deliveries. The spinner Cable and Sheppard have made some inroads, but the run rate is still humming along, 2/105 in 20 overs. Moodley joins Cable, the runs still coming after 25 overs, 2/128. Can this combination of fast and slow pry a wicket?
25.3 4 Moodley to Speed
Edged and through the slips for four. Moodley seems to be losing his cool here. He could do with some comforting words from his teammates to calm him down.
And that's his fifty! Well played.
Very nearly! Alas, it is Speed's 51 that comes after 76 balls, not his wicket.
28.1 W Cable to Speed
Now that's quality spin bowling! Nicely flighted up to Speed, drawing him forward, then spinning away and taking the outside edge. First slip takes a comfortable catch.
And there's the breakthrough. Cable nearing the end of his spell, all of his team and supporters were getting tense and he's foxed Speed out. There was some tight bowling leading up to that and Speed leaves on 52 from 86 balls.
Rhinos 3/139 (29.0)
29.5 W Moodley to Howland
Howland is beaten by the swing and gifts a thin edge to Cloete.
Speed's wicket opened the gate for Moodley to shock a new batsman and there goes one, out for 1.
Rhinos 4/140 (30.0)
Cable finishes his overs with 1/31, polite applause for a dependable young player. Sheppard replaces him.
35.4 6 Sheppard to Lewington
The ground is not big enough to contain Lewington!
And that's a century for Lewington! Well played indeed Sir!
Lewington brings up his century in style. He seems to be the key for Rhinos, he's kept their game alive so far with 100 from 111 balls.
Rhinos make it to the home stretch rather unscathed, 4/184 (40.0)
Mametsa returns after a mixed opening spell
40.3 W Mametsa to Noon
Great delivery, perfect length, Noon went for the cover drive off the back foot, ball got the inside edge and crashed into the stumps.
That was inopportune.
41.1 W Moodley to Fish
Magnificent shot, straight into the hands of third man.
41.2 . Moodley to Birch
Well bowled. A textbook leg cutter by Moodley, who rolls his fingers over the seam and beats Birch all ends up.
41.3 4 Moodley to Birch
He's found the middle of the bat with that shot, four runs for Birch.
41.4 W Moodley to Birch
Edged off the toe of the bat and it's Christmas come early for Cloete.
It's all falling apart now, just like that.
42.1 W Mametsa to Belgrave
Got him! He's got to go. That was as plumb as the plumbiest of plumbs. Mametsa trapped him right in front of the stumps. No hesitation from the umpire.
42.2 W Mametsa to Baholo
Hands like flypaper! That one really stuck.
Mametsa's got four! He waves to the crowd.
Rhinos 9/192 (43.0) Lewington still stuck there on 109.
And Miah returns for the final few overs
45.5 W Miah to Buchan
He plays all around a straight one and is plumb in front.
Or final five balls. Rhino's all out for 199, Lewington ran out of partners on 112 from 125 balls.
So, as the players go in for an early lunch, Fighting Mongooses will chase 200 for victory. It's still perfectly sunny and the main thing they have to remember is to not lose their heads.
We return for the chase, Whaley and Way are the batsmen, Belgrave and Buchan are the bowlers.
2.4 6 Belgrave to Whaley
Whaley, keen to get down the boozer, dispatches that one with an almightly thwack! Mine's a pint, big man!
Whaley isn't content to simply play it cool. None for forty two after seven overs, a mathematically simple six runs per over.
7.1 W Buchan to Way
Hands like flypaper! That one really stuck.
Way goes for 13. Browne is the new man.
10.6 6 Belgrave to Whaley
Mistimes his shot but he's a big, powerful man and the ball still flies into the member's area for six.
Another one! 1/66 in 11 overs.
Speed returns to the middle after a stoic fifty earlier, but this time a ball has appeared in his hand.
11.6 4 Speed to Whaley
Square cut - effortless and technically perfect.
And that's his fifty! Well played.
So far, Speed has no answers for Whaley. A fantastic 53 in 39 deliveries.
1/91 in 15 overs. Browne slowly building to 14, Whaley racing to 62.
Not much to report after 20 overs, 1/103. Speed and Baholo have tightened their grip. Birch now replaces Speed with his dangerous spin.
21.3 W Birch to Browne
Beautifully disguised top spinner nicked to the keeper. No shame there son, Birch is just too good.
Browne departs, 26 in 38. Barton comes in. Just 88 runs left.
23.6 W Birch to Whaley
Whaley goes down very low for the sweep... but the ball hasn't bounced and cannons into his chest! Big appeal and OUT! Gut Before Wicket!
Whaley also falls to Birch and in a particularly unglamorous way. His 76 from 80 balls was superb. Woodward joins Barton to make two new batsmen at the crease; are Fighting Mongooses in trouble?
4.2 6 Baholo to Barton
Fantastic shot. If he carries on playing shots like that, we're going to have to warn the aircraft overhead to steer clear of the ground today!
Not if Barton can help it.
29.2 4 Birch to Barton
A beautiful reverse sweep from Barton sends that delivery away for four runs.
That's mockery. 3/160 after 30 overs. 40 to go.
30.2 6 Baholo to Barton
Wow what a shot! SIX! We will try and get the ball if it ever comes down....
Barton is keener to get down the pub than Whaley.
3/183 after 35 overs. Barton 46 off 41, Woodward the silent partner with 14 in 31. This match is surely decided, though one wicket could spark a collapse as we saw in the first.
36.2 2 Birch to Barton
He hit that hard, but Speed dives acrobatically to stop the ball before it hits the boundary rope, and sends the throw back to Fish. Brilliant fielding and the crowd love it.
And that's his fifty! Well played.
Barton's 50 comes in just 45 balls. He has been dominant.
36.4 6 Birch to Woodward
BISH! BASH! BOSH! That has gone a HUGE distance! Woodward will be happy with that...
Woodward is looking to move, now. Just five runs left.
36.5 W Birch to Woodward
Total mix-up. Woodward is runout.
Oh no! Well, that's cricket, isn't it? Cloete is the last recognised batsman in, but with just five runs left, it would take something special for Rhinos to win from here.
38.6 1 Birch to Cloete
Nurdled to deep fine leg.
Cloete comfortably takes the score to 200 with a nurdle. That's the game.
Rhino's 199 (45.5)
Lewington 112 n.o.
Speed 52
Mametsa 4/38 (8.0)
Moodley 3/34 (10.0)
Fighting Mongooses 4/200 (39.0)
Whaley 76
Barton 54 n.o.
Birch 2/39 (8.0)
MotM: Whaley
15,211 fans turned out for this contest and we can tell you that Fighting Mongooses have retained the top spot in the league, which they will expect to extend to a third win against last season's wooden spooners, Hunk of Burning Love.
Code:
Rhino's [B]Fighting Mongooses[/B]
Top Order: competent [B]mediocre[/B]
Middle Order: feeble [B]feeble[/B]
Lower Order: worthless [B]worthless[/B]
Seam Bowling: feeble [B]mediocre[/B]
Spin Bowling: strong [B]respectable[/B]
Fielding: mediocre [B]woeful[/B]
With RRR > 6 but with 8 wickets in hand, you will make it Syl 
I have learnt this from BaggyBlues's experience against Hunting Tigers 
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