Taking to the field at Benalla Gardens Oval for round one of the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association season against Beechworth, the Bushies scored an emphatic 56-run victory, catapulting the side to a place that has seemed foreign over the past few seasons – the top of the ladder.
Asked to bat after losing the toss, the Bushrangers were a man down early as Jonty Priest (3) was bowled, leaving the side at 1-12, however, remaining opener James Carboon and vice-captain Ross Cavill steadied the ship, forming a 40-run partnership to build some momentum in the innings.
Carboon (27) would be next to depart, but not before the Bushies had crossed the 50-run threshold, and it brought O’Donnell to the crease, with the new skipper showing plenty of class out in the middle.
Adding 38 alongside Cavill before the vice-captain’s departure for a patient 34, O’Donnell went ballistic, belting 60 runs at better than a run a ball, with his knock including two fours and a ridiculous five maximums.
Adding to his partnership with Cavill, O’Donnell combined with Vaughan Kirk for the biggest stand of the afternoon, the duo plundering 53 runs before Kirk’s departure for 27, which left Benalla four wickets down though with 143 runs on the board.
O’Donnell’s knock wouldn’t last much longer, though, finally removed after an entertaining 60, while new batsman Fletcher Paul followed immediately, both departing with the score at 163 to leave the Bushies six wickets down.
Thomas Snell and Xavier De Fazio would each add 10 runs in an invaluable lower order contribution, the latter finishing unbeaten as the Bushies posted a strong total of 7-197 from their allocated 45 overs.
And while O’Donnell had done the bulk of the damage with the bat, it was a much more impressive team performance with the ball, with all eight Bushrangers to bowl taking a wicket in a remarkably even contribution from everyone.
Ensuring wickets fell at a steady rate, the Bushies kept each of the Wanderer’s top four batsmen to single digits, while only one of the entire lineup would score more than 20, as the home side romped to a commanding win by bowling Beechworth out for 141 in 35.4 overs.
Tom Osborne would be the only multiple wicket taker for the Bushies, claiming figures of 3-37 in what was a brilliant first-up outing for the side.
In fact, the Bushrangers’ performance was the best batting display across the entire competition, while their bowling performance was only eclipsed by Yarrawonga-Mulwala, who restricted their opponents to two fewer runs than the Bushies.
Benalla will look to continue its stunning start to the season this Saturday when they take on Delatite Devils, again at Benalla Gardens, with the Devils having also scored an opening round win over City Colts.
Elsewhere, the B-grade Bushrangers will get their campaign under way at Lords Reserve at Mansfield as they open their season against Delatite, while the Bushrangers’ fourth XI will travel to take on Moyhu at Moyhu Recreation Reserve in C-grade.
The Bushrangers’ third XI, also competing in C-grade, has the bye.
THE GAME
Benalla 7-197 (Tom O’Donnell 60, Ross Cavill 34, Johnathan Carson 2-38) d Beechworth 10-141 (Lewis Richards 25, Tom Osborne 3-37, Vaughan Kirk 1-9, Xavier De Fazio 1-9)
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