Harry Hillier and Griegan French got the Rhinos over the line with an unbeaten partnership of 169. Photos by Wayne Bradley.
The Deni Rhinos A-grade side hosted the Katunga Swans on Saturday, in round six of the Murray Valley Cricket Association.
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Joining the top level of MVCA competition this season, little was known about the capability of the Swans.
On a cool day with a heavy breeze, Katunga won the toss elected to bat first.
Katunga started well, with the openers finding the boundary with regularity.
After the first 12 overs the Swans had reached 74 without loss.
The combination of the Rhinos’ most capped players led to the first breakthrough.
Andrew Hogan got Katunga’s Sam Boyd out for 40 off 35 balls whose innings included six fours and one six, well caught by Rhinos wicket keeper Boddie Arthur.
This led to the other opening batsman Ethan Davies also dismissed by Hogan caught by Lachlan Holloway on the eve of the first drinks break with the score at 2-77.
This brought Katunga’s Jacob Bartlett and Brayden Beaton together to the crease.
Both showed their intent before their downfalls created by spin.
Holloway removed Bartlett, who was caught by Brad Todd, then Anthony Bradley got the wicket of Beaton caught by Rory Bartlett.
Katunga’s Nash Siermans and Jules Cook then batted for 10 overs together before Siermans was cleaned bowled for 25 by Griegan French in the 33rd over.
in the very next over Bartlett bowled Cook.
Brendan Thorne and Dan Henderson came together before Henderson was also bowled by French for 14.
Thorne was then caught by the Rhinos’ Joice Mathew off Hogan’s bowling.
Hogan finished the innings getting his fourth wicket, Hugh Duncan, as Katunga posted a first innings total of 9/200 after 45 overs.
A big total, the Rhinos were out to prove their credentials this season.
Rhinos openers Todd and French got off to a positive start scoring 32 off the first three overs before he Todd was dismissed looking to make a quick fire innings, caught by Shaun McAllister off the bowling of Duncan.
Todd scored 20 off eight balls including three fours and one six.
With this wicket, Harry Hillier came to the crease in the fourth over.
Deni was still looking to get the runs in 41 overs.
Despite the large total required, French and Hillier put on an unbeaten partnership of 169 runs with two measured innings.
French brought up his century in the 37th over finishing on 107 not out off 109 balls, hitting 15 fours and two sixes in the important knock for the Rhinos.
It was the first century for the home side this season.
Hillier, meanwhile, scored 64 not out off 126 balls, including seven fours.
It allowed him to show his temperament while providing able support to French in chasing the total.
The Rhinos reached the total of 201 at the end of the 40th over, winning by nine wickets with five overs in a quality home win.
Griegan French scored 107 not out off 109 balls for the Rhinos.
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