Benalla’s lower grade sides enjoyed another fruitful weekend across all sections in the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association competition, recording six wins from nine clashes in a successful weekend.
Seniors
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B-grade
Benalla’s second XI made it two wins from as many matches to start the season when it hosted Rutherglen United at the weekend, claiming a five-wicket win after solid all-round performance with both bat and ball.
Sent into the field after losing the toss, the Bushrangers made a hot start with the ball via Dale Stratton, who after coming as the first change bowler delivered a maiden with his first set of six, then claimed two wickets in his second over, which was immediately followed up by Mark Osborne, who snared a wicket with his first delivery.
In all the carnage, Rutherglen had slumped from 0-29 to 3-32, with the Bushrangers wresting command and not letting up from there.
The visitors held out for 13 overs after the first miniature collapse, but Tace Bigmore would find the breakthrough in the 23rd over, and once again the Bushies would strike multiple times in quick succession, as Mitchell Wheelens snared his first in the following over, before claiming another six balls later, as Rutherglen slumped from 3-60 to 6-69 in a matter of 17 deliveries.
The pattern emerged once again at the end of the innings, as Bigmore (2-35) added his second to reduce the visitors to 7-82, before Wheelens (4-22) added his third the next over and a fourth the over after that, as Rutherglen crumbled to 9-90.
But Benalla couldn’t find the final wicket, and the visitors added 28 runs in the final 10 overs to finish on 9-118 from 40 overs, setting the Bushies a total of 119 for victory.
Things got off to a shaky start, too, with Vishal Sharma and Lucas Ham both departing inside the opening four overs to leave the Bushies two down with only 10 runs on the board, while Nathan Delaney was also sent packing for single figures as Benalla slumped to 3-30.
But Dylan Barber and Bryce Cooney would steady the ship in a 46-run stand for the fourth wicket, dragging the Bushrangers to 4-76 by the time Cooney (19) departed, and while Barber would follow soon after having belted a team-high 35, the Bushrangers were within 40 runs of victory with five wickets in hand, looking in control at 5-80 and with plenty of time remaining.
They would need only seven of the remaining 17 overs to tick off the required runs, however, as skipper Gary Priest and Greg Hoysted finished unbeaten on 24 and nine, respectively, to guide Benalla to a five-wicket win and second spot on the ladder at the end of round two.
The Bushies will look to make it three wins on the trot this Saturday when they take on Merton at Merton Cricket Ground.
C-grade
Third XI
Having been made to wait an extra week to get the season started after having the bye in round one, Benalla’s third XI took to the field for its first clash of the campaign against Moyhu at Arundel Street Oval on Saturday.
But despite putting a competitive total on the board, the Bushies will have to wait at least another week to taste victory for the first time this season, going down by three wickets in an entertaining clash.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Benalla made a solid start to the innings despite an early wicket, with skipper Jordan Smith (28) combining for a 49-run second wicket stand with Leigh Pollard, who added a further 35 alongside Matthew Hadj (16) after Smith’s departure, before eventually holing out for 40 to leave the Bushrangers at 4-102.
Matthew Priest and Paul Creamer picked up where Pollard left off, though, adding 58 for the fifth wicket to see Benalla to 4-160, though eventually fell within three balls of one another for 32 and 16, respectively, to leave the Bushies at 6-160, while handy contributions of 11 each to Gurpreet Singh Mann and Kai Dervish, the former unbeaten, saw Benalla to a total of 7-184 from 35 overs.
Moyhu got off to a flying start in its chase, though, reaching 77 without loss before Noah Cooney picked up the first breakthrough for the Bushies, which he followed up quickly to leave the visitors down 2-89.
Pollard and Singh Mann each snared their first soon after as Benalla’s fightback continued, leaving the Vikings four down for 114 in the 19th over, which soon became 5-126 and then 6-140 as Singh Mann claimed wickets two and three, and the Bushrangers’ resurgence grew.
But with their number three still at the crease, the Vikings proved too good, and while Singh Mann claimed another to take his figures to 4-24 in a valiant attempt to bowl Benalla to victory, it wasn’t enough, with Moyhu claiming a three-wicket win with seven balls to spare.
The third XI will host Beechworth at Arundel Street again this week weekend as they look to secure the first victory of their campaign.
Fourth XI
Benalla’s fourth XI has made a bright start to the WDCA C-grade competition, snaring win number two from game number two on Saturday in an absolute demolition of Greta.
Asked to bowl after losing the toss, the Bushrangers were relentless, dismantling the visitors at Arundel Street Oval before completing the chase inside 30 overs for a six-wicket win.
It was a dream start to the contest for the Bushies as Tyson Williams (2-12) set the tone from the outset, delivering a double wicket maiden in the second over of the day to have Greta down 2-1 inside 12 deliveries.
The visitors would put together their biggest partnership of the day following the early setback, adding 32 for the third wicket, however Trevor Byers (2-10) soon put an end to that, claiming wickets in consecutive overs to reduce Greta from 2-33 to 4-34, and the onslaught didn’t stop there.
Captain Nicholas Jacobs (2-15) repeated that feat, only better, claiming two wickets in four balls in the 16th over, as Greta slumped to 5-43 then 6-44, while Ian Costello (2-7) found himself on a hat-trick after the final two balls of the 19th over saw him claim scalps, with the visitors in dire trouble at 8-52.
A run out and Jack McKenzie’s (1-8) first scalp of the afternoon closed out proceedings, with the Bushies bowling Greta out for 81 after only 31.3 overs in a dominant display.
It wasn’t such a dominant display with the bat, as three of Benalla’s four wickets fell for single digits, though opener Chris Lindsay smacked a game-high 44 at the top of the order to set up a successful chase, which was finished off by Vishal Fernando (8 not out) in the 29th over to cap a successful six wicket win.
The Bushies’ fourth XI side will travel to Gapsted Recreation reserve to take on Gapsted this weekend as they hunt a third straight win to start the season.
Juniors
Under-16 Eugene Kneebone Shield
Benalla Blue
Benalla Blue cruised to a devastating victory over Wangaratta Magpies at the weekend, following up a string bowling performance from day one with an even stronger batting performance on day two at HP Barr Reserve in Wangaratta.
Having kept the Magpies to 9-88 from 30.5 overs on day one, the Bushrangers resumed play on day two needing 89 for victory, and despite losing Angus Hayes (2) early on to be down 1-18, were soon back on course as Thomas Snell and Tom Osborne combined for a 46-run second wicket stand.
While Snell would fall for 37 off 36 deliveries with the Bushies at 2-64, Benalla comfortably reached the 89 required for victory without further loss, as Osborne and Joshua Montgomery put the foot down.
The pair added 47 in tandem to secure the win, with Osborne’s dismissal for 33 bringing an end to the partnership at 3-111.
It was party time for the Bushies from there, as Montgomery cashed in with an unbeaten 51 before retiring not out, having already secured victory, while Jimi Pell (30) and Cooper Martin (28) each retired not out, while Ryder Humphries hit a powerful unbeaten 25 off 13 deliveries, as the Bushies posted a mammoth 6-239 from 38.4 overs in reply.
The win sends Benalla Blue to the top of the table after round one, and will face Rovers United Bruck next Saturday, November 7 for the first day of round two action.
Benalla Red
Benalla Red secured a solid 17-run victory on day two of its round one clash against Yarrawonga-Mulwala at Victoria Park on Saturday following a solid display with the Kookaburra.
Having made 9-147 after being sent into bat on day one, the Bushies faced a tough task on Saturday to keep the Lakers to less than 148, however, got off to a dream start as Noah Cooney (2-17) snared a wicket in each of his first two overs to leave the home side in trouble at 2-10.
The Lakers would fight back through the middle order, though, with three players scoring 20 or more, however Xavier De Fazio (1-18) and Harrison Skelton (2-15) mounted a resurgence for Benalla, with De Fazio finding the breakthrough before Skelton snared a pair three overs later, reducing the home side to 5-57.
Tyson Williams (2-10) snared his first to leave the Lakers at 6-77 with the first ball of the 20th over, and then 7-79 with the final ball of the 20th over, as the Bushies sniffed victory.
Trevor Maru (1-9) and Hugh Ross (1-12) brought the visitors ever closer in the 25th and 26th overs, each snaring their first wickets to reduce the Lakers further to 8-86 and then 9-92, and while the home side put in one last-gasp effort, Noah Anderson (1-8) delivered the fatal blow, bowling the Lakers out for 130 after a 38-run partnership for the final wicket.
The under-16 Red side sit second on the ladder behind their Blue clubmates after round one, and will face Wangaratta Magpies on Saturday, November 7 at Norm Minns Oval as they look to go two from two.
Under-14 Len Hill Shield
Benalla Red
Benalla Red claimed a brilliant 21-run victory on day two of their Len Hill Shield clash against Delatite Devils Blue on Saturday, dominating proceedings with ball in hand at Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve.
Resuming day two having posted 5-137 after electing to bat on day one, the Bushrangers proved far too good in the field, restricting the Devils to 7-116 after 40 overs to wrap up the convincing win.
Bentley Parker (2-9) starred early with a pair of quick wickets to leave Delatite in trouble at 2-9, and while the home side fought back, adding 35 for the third wicket, Neev Patel caused havoc in the middle order, finding the breakthrough before claiming another two wickets to finish with team best figures of 3-9.
Jack Crook (1-13) and Jagga Schintler (1-19) also picked up wickets, as the Bushies delivered a disciplined bowling performance to claim the first up win.
The Red side will host Yarrawonga Mulwala Rams on Saturday, November 7 at Benalla Showgrounds as they look to make it two from two to start the season.
Benalla Blue
Benalla Blue delivered a crushing victory of Delatite Devils Gold at the weekend, backing up a brutal day one with another solid performance on day two at Benalla Gardens Oval on Saturday.
Resuming play at 2-19 in their chase having bowled the Devils out for 72 on day one, the Bushies suffered the loss of another two quick wickets to sit 4-23 early and looking down the barrel of defeat, however Edward Clancy had other ideas.
With an unbeaten 50 off only 51 deliveries, Clancy steadied the ship through the middle order before putting the pressure back on Delatite’s bowlers, adding 44 in partnership with Ryan Lindsay (7) for the fifth wicket, before ticking off the winning runs alongside William Staggard (28) for a five-wicket win.
The Bushies would go on to reach 143 before being bowled out, with the crushing performance seeing them on the cusp of the top four after round one.
Benalla Blue will travel to Lonsdale Reserve to take on Yarrawonga Mulwala Bulls in round two on Saturday, November 7.
Under-12
Benalla Red side secured a big win over Delatite Devils in round two, hitting the winning runs with 10 wickets in hand before batting on in a supreme display at Arundel Street Oval on Saturday.
Bowling first after winning the toss, Albert Briggs snared 2-3 as the Bushies kept the Devils to 6-26 from 20 overs, before Luke Conway top scored with 22 not out in the chase, as Benalla surpassed the 27 for victory without loss before going on to belt 6-72 in a mammoth win.
Benalla Blue wasn’t as successful in its clash with Wangaratta Magpies Black, going down by 30 runs despite some solid individual efforts.
Electing to bowl after winning the toss, Jaxson Heatherill was the only wicket taker for Benalla, snaring 1-12 – the other coming via run out - as the Magpies posted 2-107 from 220 overs.
In reply with the bat, Jack Bourke finished unbeaten on 17 and Cooper Rheese retired not out on 15, however the Bushrangers posted 3-77 to suffer a 30-run defeat.
Benalla Green suffered defeat, too, going down to Yarrawonga Mulwala Bulls at Victoria Park in Yarrawonga on Saturday morning.
Archie Maconochie top scored with an unbeaten 10 as Benalla Green posted 6-57 after opting to bat first, and despite Izayah Williams’ efforts of 1-6 with the ball, the Bushrangers were unable to stop the Bulls from blasting their way to 4-104 to take the win.