Hillier hits ton in Rhinos win

Deniliquin Rhinos Division One veteran batsman Tim Hillier smashed a century to guide his side to victory, playing at home against Berrigan on Saturday.

It was Hillier’s second century in as many years, smashing 14 ‘fours’ and three ‘sixes’ on his way to an unbeaten 103 runs.

It was a tremendous day for the allrounder, who also left with bowling figures of 2/8 from 4.4 overs, including two maidens.

The win moves the Rhinos into fourth spot on the Murray Valley Cricket Association ladder, improving their win-loss record to 2-3 in what is a tight Division One competition.

Rhinos’ skipper Jack Tonta said that Hillier’s performance was quite impressive.

‘‘Tim (Hillier) has found some form recently,’’ he said.

‘‘Phil Rotherham also had a great game, opening the batting well.

‘‘Hopefully we can get a win over Cobram this weekend to get one more win before the bye.’’

Berrigan won the toss and opted to bat first, with Connor Thornton and Andrew Parr adding 21 runs in the first 10 overs, before Parr (18) was sent on his way by Chris Baines (2/21 off eight).

Lachie Pyle joined Thornton in the middle, but it was not long till Baines struck again with a leg cutter clean bowling Pyle (4) to have the Saints on 2/38.

Two runs later Thornton was back in the pavilion after making 16, caught off the bowling of Phil Rotherham (1/13 off eight).

Berrigan’s two new batsmen, Graeme Parr and Zach Nugent, both composed themselves and got the Saints back on track with come exciting batting, however Rob Heane (1/24 off three) broke that partnership, with Nugent caught in the deep for 20 and the Saints were now 4/64.

Wickets fell quickly and Berrigan were 7/81.

Ricky Khurana was the next man in and started strongly adding another 10 runs to the team score, before Haintz (7) was caught for Tonta’s second wicket in the deep.

John O’Neil was the last man in for the Saints before the Berrigan pair took a more risky single, which had O’Neil caught short of his crease, run out for a duck by Heane, ending the Saints’ innings at 99 runs after 34.4 overs.

The Rhinos openers Chris Pyle and Rotherham started well, taking no risks while still scoring at reasonable run rate, however a change in the Berrigan attack saw Loats (1/24 off three) pick up the wicket of Pyle for 16 caught at mid-wicket and the Rhinos were 1/42.

Nugent (1/17 off eight) came into the attack and it wasn’t long before he had Rotherham lbw for 17 and the home side was now 2/54.

Another bowling change saw Graeme Parr (1/28 off six) claim Heane for 11 and the Rhinos were now 3/54.

This brought father-son combo Tim and Harry Hiller to the crease.

The two batted smartly and after a couple of dropped catches from the Saints, the pair passed Berrigan’s score in the 26th over.

The two continued putting on a 92 run partnership before Harry (17) was caught off the bowling of Middleton (1/38 off eight) and the Rhinos were now 4/146.

Tonta (4) joined Hillier in the middle for a brief spell before Cameron McDonald helped Hillier on his way to a century.

As a consolation Khurana (2/13 off two) picked up McDonald (2) on the last ball of the innings, the Rhinos finishing 6/187 after their 40 overs.