Seniors
A-reserve
Winning the toss and electing to bowl at RC McNamara Reserve in Myrtleford, the Bushrangers took on Ovens Valley United and were looking for quick wickets, which proved hard to come by.
Matthew Priest made the breakthrough, dismissing their opener for 34 to have the Tigers 1-63, and wickets started to flow from there as the home side stumbled to 5-99, although an unbeaten 75 from the Ovens Valley number five saw them post a huge 9-243 from the 40 overs.
Priest (3-32) and Kallum Croxford (2-36) were the pick of Benalla’s bowlers.
Michael Honman top-scored for Benalla in reply with a well-made 40, and skipper Dylan Barber was also a valuable contributor with 32 not-out, however the Tigers proved too strong, restricting the Bushies to just 6-124 from 40 overs.
Final score:
Ovens Valley 9-243
Benalla 6-124
B-grade - BYE
C-grade Red vs C-grade Blue
Arundel Street Oval saw an intra-club stoush on Saturday, with the two C-grade sides facing off against each other.
The Reds won the toss and elected to bat, with opener Jordan Smith making the most of the opportunity to smack an unbeaten 84 at the top of the order.
Fellow opener Steven Pickering was also solid, making 27 before being dismissed by Blues skipper Mark Osborne, who finished with figures of 3-29, while young gun Xavier De Fazio claimed two wickets throughout the middle order to finish with 2-45 and help restrict the Reds to 7-151 from 36 overs.
Unfortunately for the Blues, things didn’t quite go to plan with bat in hand, as the Reds, led by Trevor Byers, ripped through the line-up.
Sam Hazell produced a stout defence at number three, hitting a defiant 43, before he was dismissed by Byers, who claimed an astonishing 6-22, while also producing a run-out, as the Blues were bowled out for 105.
Final score:
C-grade Red 7-151
C -grade Blue 10-105
Juniors
U12 Blue
The under-12 Blue side faced Wangaratta Magpies White at North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve, and sent the home side in to bat after winning the toss.
Joel Emmanuel was the standout with the ball for the Bushies, taking 3-2 as well as being involved in a run-out, while Toby Fitzgerald was the only other bowler to claim a wicket, the other via another run-out, as Benalla kept the Magpies to 6-64.
All batsmen made a score for the Bushies in the chase, with Toby Smith whacking 23 not-out off his 15 deliveries, while Dustin Nolan also retired not-out with a well-made 13, as the Bushrangers chased down the total for a comfortable win.
Final score
Wangaratta White 6-64
Benalla Blue 5-84
U12 Red vs U12 Green
The under-12 Red and Green sides faced off at Benalla Gardens Oval on Friday night in a brilliant contest between bat and ball.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Red side got off to a good start through vice-captain Jack McKenzie, who retired not-out after smacking 16, while Hudson Pickering, Oliver Ross and Jimmy Humphrey all made solid scores also, hitting 14, 13 and 10 respectively.
Johnathan Goodwin, Izayah Williams and Finlay Parker were the wicket-takers for the Green side, as they kept the Reds to 4-87 from the 20 overs.
Jaxson Heatherill and Bentley Parker batted well for the Green team in the chase, making 15 and 19 respectively, while Ryan Lindsay made an unbeaten 18, however it wasn’t enough to get their side over the line, as the Red bowlers kept the wickets falling and secured victory for their side.
Final score
U12 Red 4-87
U12 Green 8-78
U14 Blue
The under-14 Blue Bushrangers travelled to Stan Hargreaves Oval to take on Yarrawonga Mulwala on Saturday, sending the home side in to bat after winning the toss.
Alex Lambert and Tom Osborne got things off to a great start for the Bushies, each removing a Yarrawonga Mulwala opener for a duck, while Xavier De Fazio, Ryder Humphries and Henry Briggs each took a wicket as the Bushies kept the home side to just 5-52 from 20 overs.
Tom Osborne was brilliant with the bat too, top scoring with 13 in the chase, closely followed by Tyson Williams with 12, as the Bushrangers reached the required runs eight wickets down to secure the win.
Final score:
Yarrawonga Mulwala 5-52
Benalla 8-57
Under 14 Red
Benalla’s under-14 Red side travelled to Beechworth to take on the Wanderers at the weekend, and were sent in to bat after losing the toss.
Angus Leavold was the pick of the batsmen with an unbeaten 32, and was well supported by Noah Anderson, who retired not-out on 22, as the Bushies posted a competitive 5-98 from the 20 overs.
Oliver Smith proved potent with ball in hand as the Bushrangers attempted to defend the total, claiming 3-5 from three overs, while Jack Hart heaped the pressure on with 2-11.
The Beechworth number five made things tricky after posting 33 not-out, however the Bushies were able to do enough to keep the Wanderers to 8-85 and head to the break on a high.
Final score:
Benalla 5-98
Beechworth 8-85
U16
Benalla’s under-6 side hosted City Colts at Gardens Oval, and were donning the pads after winning the toss and opting to bat.
Josh Hart top-scored with 21 in trying conditions as the Colts bowlers made life difficult, with the Bushrangers managing just 6-78 from the 20 overs.
The bowlers were set a big task to defend the total, and while they put in an inspired effort, led by Bryce Cooney’s 2-6, City Colts were able to reach the required runs with five wickets in hand, before batting on to reach a final score of 9-99.
Final score:
Benalla 6-78
City Colts 9-99