After a strong start to the season, Benalla faced the league leaders, Yarrawonga Mulawa, before a much-needed break in the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association.
The Rose City cricket team travelled to Stan Hargreaves Oval for the one-day match.
An impressive bowling spell by Benalla held up Yarrawonga, but the McCabe brothers tore through the Bushrangers batting line-up as they claimed eight wickets between them, including a hat-trick.
The home side claimed the win by 62 runs.
Yarrawonga won the toss and elected to bat first, but Benalla was on top early.
Charlie Bull had opener Reid Clarke’s number and cleaned up his stumps as Conor Brodie had Ben McDonald caught behind shortly after.
With the score at 2/15, Matthew Casey steadied the Yarrawonga ship with a much-needed 35 runs.
The home side rectified its innings as Harrison Wheeler and Adam Dodd made 100 runs between them, and Yarrawonga finished its 40 overs with 178 runs.
The total was well within Benalla’s wheelhouse, but the Bushrangers started their innings similarly to their opposition.
Priyank ‘Sunny’ Chohan was caught with a total of nine runs on the board, and Michael Honman departed soon after.
James Carboon looked to swing the tide in the Bushrangers’ favour with a 31-run spell, but Brock McCabe was on the charge.
The Yarrawonga bowler cleaned up the middle order, putting Benalla firmly on the back foot.
Not to be outdone by his brother, Matt McCabe stepped up to the crease in the 28th over and took a hat-trick with Daniel Brew, Charlie Bull and Lucas Ham at the end of the fiery attack.
Benalla was left reeling and was bowled out in 38 overs for a total of 116.
The comprehensive victory saw Yarrawonga Mullawa stay at the top of the table going into the Christmas break while Benalla sat second from the bottom.