Abandoned without a ball bowled.
The second XI return to action against the undefeated Yarrawaonga Mulwala Rams on Saturday in a mouthwatering clash of second versus third.
C-grade
Third XI
In the weekend’s only match to play in its entirety besides A-grade, the Bushrangers sent Beechworth wandering back to the pavilion frequently at Benalla Showgrounds.
In the 35-over one day clash, the Bushrangers opened the match with the pads on as Jordan Smith and Paul Creamer dug in against the new ball.
A near run-a-ball knock for Smith was short lived after being caught in the outfield for 19 off 20 balls, ending a 31-run opening partnership.
However, the Wanderers’ luck with the ball ended promptly after, as Creamer and newcomer to the crease Steven Pickering blasted the Kookaburra to the fences.
Creamer rotated the strike professionally as Pickering launched three sixes in what would be an unbeaten knock, the duo’s partnership finally finishing after combining for 71, as Beechworth’s Dylan Pool trapped Creamer LBW on 46.
The middle order would face challenges with the ball though, as Beechworth collected consecutive wickets of Mathew Hadj and Matthew Priest, rendering the Bushrangers to 4-115.
However, Pickering would soldier on as those around him played false shots, producing a peerless 79 off 82 deliveries to hoist Benalla to 6-166.
While not an outstanding total, it was defendable, albeit when Noah Anderson took the rock, the target mattered little.
With searing pace, Anderson trapped a Wanderers opener leg before wicket, before skittling the next in line to render Beechworth 2-7.
Wanderers opener Michael Schultz tallied a handful more runs before Anderson striked again, this time swinging the ball into the pads of Steve Thompson, who departed for two.
After 29 balls, Schultz could no longer survive the unplayable peaches Anderson steamed in with, as the paceman cannoned the Kookaburra past the bat and into the pads again.
Then, as quickly as Beechworth was heaping itself off the canvas at 4-21, Anderson thundered a delivery into the stumps for wicket number five, dismissing the entire top order for a miniscule return.
Figures of 5-9 off fives overs are career-best for Anderson and his first time raising the rock.
After making a match-winning knock, a score higher than Beechworth’s eventual team total, Pickering was next to pick up a scalp, claiming the next two wickets in between team-best 14-run partnerships for Beechworth.
The Wanderers wandered back to the sheds with three ducks in their last four bats though, toppled all out for 66 at the end of the 23rd over.
The Bushrangers’ third XI is now on the board with a win after a thrilling finish to round two ended in a three-wicket loss, while it held the bye in round one.
They’ll face Rutherglen United in round four.
Fourth XI
The Bushrangers may have been thanking the rain for continuing to storm down at Gapsted Recreation Reserve after scoring a less than ideal total against the Gorillas.
Benalla opened the batting and made 9-129 through 35 overs, and while it would’ve been confident in its ability to defend the low total after bowling out Greta Cricket Club for 81 in round two, Gapsted had made a promising chase to the total before the rain washed out play.
Opener Grayson Kirk dug in for a gradually-paced 31 off 67 deliveries as fellow opener Angus Hayes tucked the stick under his arm after being bowled for a six-ball duck, while third bat Jatin Solanki could only make one run better, leaving the Bushies 2-16.
Kirk would produce a stabilising partnership worth 62 runs to put Benalla back on top of the contest at 3-78, however, the following stints at the crease yielded no more than solid groundwork before exiting to the Gapsted grandstand, the Bushrangers eventually finding themselves 6-116.
Suddenly, the innings went south as hesitation in between wickets led to a run out of Ian Costello, before two Gorillas wickets fell consecutively, putting Matthew White in front of a nerve-wracking hat-trick ball, which he survived.
Yet, the damage was made as Benalla stumbled to 9-117, hanging on to see out the remaining balls for a total of 129.
Costello and Paul Ivery took the reins of the opening bowling spell following the innings break, but before the rain ended play, Gapsted looked potent in its chase.
Only a sliver underneath the required run rate while the new ball attempted to wreak havoc, Ivery trapped Sasha Visic for an eight-ball duck, but Ashwin Snell and Hayden Wheeler were not out as the covers came on, Gapsted 1-22.
Perhaps the bowling prowess would have come to the fore for the Bushrangers, but netting a no result secured three premiership points for the visitors, who will play third-placed Ovens Valley in round four.
Juniors
There was no junior cricket played due to the Melbourne Cup public holiday long weekend.
