Following their round-two loss, in which they scored a mere 67, the Bushrangers took to the crease and posted a competitive 9/116 from 40 overs.
Benalla Bushrangers’ whacked for six in season start
Benalla trio Simon Holmes (37), Senaka Lakmal (35) and Garry Elliott (20) started to find some form with the pine, settling in to score confidently.
Looking to defend their total, Benalla's attack readied themselves to hold Yarrawonga to a low score.
But an even spread of contributors from the visitors’ batting order saw Yarrawonga assuredly reach Benalla's total in 25 overs.
With weather threatening the ground midway through Yarrawonga’s innings, the visitors made sure to put the foot on the gas late in the game to avoid a draw.
“They identified they needed to go harder to win the game,” Bushrangers captain James Carboon said.
“At that point it could have gone either way.”
Despite starting the season 0-2, Carboon said there were more positives out of the Bushrangers’ second outing.
“Batting the full 40 overs was a vast improvement from the week before,” Carboon said.
“We were able to post total we could bowl, too.
“A total of 67 (in round two) is hard to bowl to – we could defend this total if we bowled well.”
As well as an improved performance with the bat, the Bushrangers bowling attack continued to make strides with their workmanship.
Garry Elliott was the best with the ball, taking 2-34, while Conor Brodie was again effective, finishing with 1-19 and four maidens from eight overs.
“Brodie was good with the ball,” Carboon said.
“And Henry Sedaya bowled line and length fairly well. He was unlucky not to take more than one wicket.
“Any other day he'd have more.”
Benalla Bushrangers will play Wangaratta Magpies at Norm Minns Oval this Saturday, with both teams in the running to take home their first win of the season.
Though there is every chance Benalla could snare their first win of the season, Carboon said his team would be thinking more on the processes rather than the outcome ahead of the clash.
Benalla Bushrangers start cricket season with mixed results
“There isn’t the pressure to capitalise,” Carboon said.
“We are looking at building week on week.
“It’s not about who hasn’t won.
“If you continue building on the positives each week, you’re a good shot of playing finals.”
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