Under 16s, under 12s left to fly the Benalla flag as Bushrangers sides bow out of contention

The Benalla A Reserve side might be ruled out of contention for the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association finals series; however, that hasn’t stopped the Bushrangers from picking up wins.

Entering the penultimate round of the season at Benalla Gardens Oval on Saturday, the Bushrangers took on fourth-placed Rovers United Bruck, putting together a stunning showing to clinch a one-wicket win in heart stopping circumstances.

It was the visitors that won the toss and elected to bat at the weekend; however, that seemed to matter little to Benalla, as Gurpreet Singh Mann snared a scalp in the second over of the contest to have Rovers down 1-5 with only eight balls having been bowled.

Singh Mann’s (3-22) hot start continued as he found a second and third scalp in quick succession, as the visitors slumped to 3-34 with its top three in the sheds within 10 overs, and it looked as though Benalla would romp through the rest of the lineup with ease.

A 53-run stand for the fourth wicket quelled the momentum, however, as the Rovers made their way to 87 before Matthew Priest made the breakthrough, triggering another spurt of wickets.

Priest (3-32) and James Ladd (3-11) tore through the middle and lower order, as the visitors fell from 3-87 to 9-117, losing 6-30 in a disastrous collapse, with the Bushrangers on the verge of ending the innings early, with the ninth wicket falling in the 34th over.

The Rovers would hang on to face all 40 overs, however, adding another 22 runs to post a total of 9-139, setting the home side 140 for the win.

It was a disastrous start to the chase for Benalla, though, as both Josh Heylbut and Xavier De Fazio were dismissed for ducks within three balls of each other, leaving Benalla in strife at 2-13 in the fifth over.

Singh Mann and Fletcher Paul looked to steady, though, adding 22 in tandem before Singh Mann holed out for 25, leaving the Bushrangers three down with 35 runs on the board, which soon became 5-39 as both Matthew Priest (0) and Josh Hart (3) were forced to depart.

Paul and Riley McCarthy stopped the rot temporarily, advancing the score to 65; however, the Bushrangers were soon struck by another collapse, as Paul (27), McCarthy (8) and Joshua Montgomery (0) were sent packing as Benalla lost 3-4, leaving the scoreboard to read a dismal 8-69, still 71 shy of the required total.

A brilliant partnership of 43 between Tom Osborne and Gary Priest breathed life into the Bushrangers’ chase, however, guiding the home side beyond 100 and inspiring some hope.

Osborne’s departure for 26 left the Bushrangers nine down with 112 on the board, though, still needing 28 for the win with just one wicket in hand.

Skipper Gary Priest and Ladd were more than up to the task, however, defying the odds to finish unbeaten on 30 and 17, respectively, guiding Benalla to a brilliant victory, capped by Ladd smacking a boundary to seal the win.

The Bushrangers will look to finish the season on a high this Saturday when they take on second-placed Delatite at Lords Reserve in Mansfield.

B-Grade

Benalla’s bid for a spot in the B-grade finals series came to a devastating end on Saturday, with the Bushrangers going down by 17 runs against Rutherglen United in the final round of the home and away season.

Travelling to Barkly Park in Rutherglen with a win vital to Benalla’s hopes of securing a last-gasp spot in finals, the Bushrangers won the toss and opted to bowl, and it was captain Steven Pickering that stood tallest with his side’s season on the line.

Pickering nabbed 4-23 from seven overs as the pick of Benalla’s bowlers, decimating the Rutherglen middle order in the process to have the home side at one stage 6-45.

A 58-run stand for the seventh wicket saw Rutherglen beyond 100, however, and a further 24 runs were added for the eight in an unbeaten partnership, helping the home side to a total of 7-127 from the allotted 36 overs, a total Benalla would have felt comfortable chasing.

Thomas Snell (1-10), Udaykiran Kommidi (1-27) and Brendan Anderson (1-34) were the other wicket takers alongside Pickering, as the visitors looked to secure their spot in finals in their shot with the bat.

The loss of three wickets for 23 runs to begin the innings was less than ideal, however a 53-run stand between Anderson and Pickering looked to have corrected the Bushrangers’ course, guiding them to 4-76 as Anderson was dismissed for 22.

With Pickering still at the crease, however, Benalla’s odds looked good, adding 17 with Tom Trewin before the new batter fell, leaving the Bushrangers at 5-93, which sparked the collapse that saw the contest slip from Benalla’s grip.

Pickering went next having contributed 38, leaving the Bushies at 6-101, with Noah Anderson, Brendan Duncombe and Kommidi all following in quick succession, with Benalla slumping to 9-108 after losing 5-15.

The Bushrangers ultimately survived the indignity of being bowled out, with Angus Hayes and Oliver Smith unbeaten on 3 and 0, respectively, as the 36 overs elapsed, with Benalla only able to muster 9-110, falling 18 runs shy of victory.

The loss means Benalla finish the season in ninth spot on the ladder, one win outside of finals, bringing the season to an early end.

C-grade

Benalla suffered a brutal defeat to Delatite on the road on Saturday on what was a day for the bowlers, going down by two wickets to bring the Bushrangers’ season to a close.

The final round of the home and away season took Benalla to Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve, with the Bushrangers winning the toss and electing to bat.

But with only Vishal Fernando able to make his way to double digits, whacking an unbeaten 28, the Bushrangers looked to have posted a total well below par, finishing with 9-84 from their 36 overs.

The disappointment would have been short-lived, though, as the Bushrangers ripped through the Delatite top order, having the home side down 6-18 as Noah Cooney (3-18) and Greg Hoysted (4-20) wreaked havoc with the ball.

A 30-run partnership saw Delatite to 48 before losing its seventh wicket, still 37 runs short of victory and with the scales still tipped in Benalla’s favour.

But 35 of the 37 required would come in an eight-wicket partnership, as the home side found momentum when it was needed, eventually claiming the win by two wickets in a thrilling contest.

The loss has big ramifications for Benalla, however, as the C-grade side now finish fifth, one win outside of the top four and missing finals, meaning their season has come to an end.

Juniors

Under-16s

Benalla has suffered defeat in the final round of the under-16 Eugene Kneebone Shield competition at the hands of top side City Colts, but will live to fight another day after clinging on to fourth spot with results in other contests favouring the Bushrangers’ finals bid.

Travelling to HP Barr Reserve in Wangaratta, a win would have secured the Bushrangers’ finals spot, and they got off to a brilliant start after winning the toss and electing to bowl, with Xavier De Fazio (3-13) and Harrison Skelton (2-9) ensuring Benalla restricted the home side to a modest 5-103 from the allotted 20 overs.

But the brilliant work with the ball came crashing down just as quickly with the bat, as the Colts’ bowlers tore through Benalla, leaving the Bushrangers down 3-4 inside four overs.

It went from bad to worse despite the efforts of Joshua Montgomery (13), as Benalla soon slumped even further to 4-21, then 5-22 and 6-31, as the Bushrangers were unable to find any answers to the home side’s pressure.

At 7-43, Benalla was behind the eight-ball, and despite Tom Osborne (14 not out) and Noah Cooney’s (11 not out) efforts, the Bushrangers mustered just 7-82, going down by 21 runs.

But they will fight on into finals next week following fifth-placed Rovers United Bruck’s loss to Beechworth-Ovens Valley United, ensuring Benalla keeps hold of fourth by less than two points, setting up a rematch against City Colts in a two-day clash this weekend.

Under-14s

Benalla Red

Benalla Red entered the finals' series in the under-14 Len Hill Shield full of optimism having secured fifth spot on the ladder, however suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of third-placed Greta at the weekend, going down by nine wickets.

Hosting Greta at Benalla Gardens Oval, the Bushrangers lost the toss and were sent in to bat, and were immediately on the back foot, losing both openers Charlie Bowen and Hudson Pickering, as well as skipper Tyson Williams, to sit at 3-15 after eight overs.

The wickets didn’t slow from there either, as Bentley Parker and Noah Anderson fell in the 11th and 12th overs, respectively, while Matthew White and Jai Collins followed in the 15th and 17th, too, as the Bushrangers tumbled to 7-37.

Louis Horne was run out to leave Benalla eight down with 45 runs on the board, while the wicket of Joel Emmanuel brought the innings to an early end at 9-48, with no Bushrangers batter making it to double digits in the face of some hostile Greta bowling.

While Williams snared a scalp early to leave Greta 1-1, sparking some hope as Benalla began its turn in the field, it would be the only wicket of the innings, as Greta’s batters piled on a 48-run partnership to sew up victory inside eight overs.

The win brings an end to Benalla Red’s season, which while it didn’t finish as planned, was still successful, winning five games en route to a positive record and a finals berth.

Benalla Blue

Benalla Blue has suffered a mammoth defeat in its semi-final clash with Ovens Valley United at RC McNamara Reserve in Myrtleford, falling by 212 runs.

Having secured the last spot in finals, the Bushrangers were looking to make a splash, however finished day one on Saturday staring at a total of 254 for victory on Sunday, having opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

Three scores in excess of 40 from Ovens Valley’s top five, one of which was a half century, as well as another score of more than 30, saw the home side, who had finished unbeaten on top of the ladder, post a huge total of 5-253 from its 40 overs on Saturday, with the Bushrangers seemingly powerless to stop the onslaught.

Maxwell Hadj (1-23), Ryan Lindsay (1-30), Caleb Thwaites (1-36) and Jack Davies (1-37) found some success for Benalla, each snaring a wicket, while Cash Nolen and Lachlan Osborne were involved in a run out, however it was slim pickings for the Bushrangers, who padded up on Sunday in pursuit of 254 to win.

But with a bowling attack just as formidable is its batting lineup, Ovens Valley dominated proceedings, with Thomas Snell and Osborne the only two to go beyond 10 runs, each mustering 12.

The remaining nine Benalla batters combined for only eight, with five recording ducks, as the Bushrangers were bowled out for 41 in 17.1 overs, bringing the season to a close with a crushing defeat.

Like their Red club mates, it was still a successful season for the Blue side, notching an identical record to the Reds at 5-3 to finish sixth, and securing a finals berth despite strong pressure from sides immediately below.

Under-12s

Benalla Bushrangers Red will contest the WDCA under-12 Gold division grand final following a semi-final triumph over club mates Benalla Green on Saturday at Arundel Street Oval.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, top-of-the-table Red was led by co-captains Jack McKenzie (20) and Toby Smith, with Smith retiring unbeaten on 30 as the side’s top scorer.

Ewan Patel (11), Luke Conway (10) and Isla Walker (9 not out) were also handy contributors, as Red posted 6-112 from the 20 overs.

For Green, Jack Bourke led the way with the ball, snaring 1-10, while Cailin Delaney (1-12) and Jonathan Goodwin (1-18) also claimed wickets.

In the chase, Green’s co-captain Archer Pickering was valiant with 19 not out to top score, while Goodwin (11) and co-captain Tom Lambert (10 retired not out) were also solid, however Green was unable to find the 113 to win, restricted to 7-92.

Neev Patel (1-3) and Tulson Reynolds (1-4) were the pick of Red’s bowlers, alongside Miller Fowles (1-8) and Maximus Reynolds (1-15), as Red stormed into the decider.

Red will face Yarrawonga-Mulwala Bulls for the title after the Bulls upset second-placed Benalla Blue in the other semi-final by seven wickets.

Batting first after losing the toss, Edward Clancy smacked 32 not out to help Benalla Blue to a big score of 4-113, which despite hauls of 2-10 from Jaxson Heatherill and 1-14 from Finlay Parker in Benalla’s turn in the field, proved to be not enough, as the Bulls replied with 3-114 to claim a seven-wicket win in the final over of the innings, and with it a spot in the final.