Playing away for the third week in a row to start the season, the Bushrangers travelled to Beechworth’s Baarmutha Park to take on the Wanderers on Saturday, electing to bat after winning the toss.
With both sides looking for their first win, there was plenty to play for, and it was the Bushies that got off to the hot start through the opening pair of skipper Brayden Stepien and James Carboon.
Having put on 49 runs for the first wicket last week against Wangaratta, Stepien and Carboon went even better against Beechworth, seeing off the new ball in a 15-over stay at the crease.
Finding their rhythm while also scoring at a decent clip, the pair put 72 runs on the board before Stepien was caught off the bowling of Richard Worcester, but not before he had smacked 49 runs from 46 deliveries, which included finding the boundary on seven occasions.
The wicket of Stepien left Benalla at 1-71, which immediately became 2-72 as new batter Jonty Priest fell for a golden duck, leaving Lucas Ham to join Carboon in the middle.
It was a steadying partnership, with the pair soaking up another 10 overs as they attempted to correct course; however, the 37-run stand came to an end when Carboon was run out on 47, with the Bushrangers falling to 3-109.
It proved to be the final partnership that posted more than 21 runs for Benalla as wickets began to fall with regularity, although Ham (16), Matthew Priest (15) and number seven Fletcher Paul (21 not out) made valuable contributions down the order, as the Bushrangers posted a total of 8-179 at the end of their 45 overs.
With ball in hand Benalla was able to find wickets; however, not at the rate or regularity required, with all of Beechworth’s top five batsmen making starts and helping to chase down the 180 set for victory.
Lee Brennan (1-35) opened the Bushrangers’ account to remove Beechworth opener Will Prebble for 17; however, by that stage the home side was 1/59, just 120 runs behind with nine wickets still in hand.
Paul (2-19) joined the action soon after to remove the remaining Beechworth opener Clancy Ellett (47) to leave the Wanderers 2-98; however partnerships of 23 and 52 for the third and fourth wickets, respectively, left Beechworth needing just seven runs for victory with six wickets in hand, which it managed comfortably to reach 4-181, securing a four-wicket win with 15 overs to spare.
Paul was the pick of the bowlers for Benalla, finishing with 2-19 from his four overs, while Mitchell Wheelens snared 1-19 from his three overs to join Brennan as the only other wicket taker for the Bushies.
The Bushrangers will regroup ahead of the first home game of the season this week at Benalla Gardens Oval, when they take on a City Colts side also looking for its first win of the season.
