Travelling to Norm Minns Oval in Wangaratta on Saturday to take on the Tigers, having already faced them a week before for a loss in the last game before the finalists were set, the Bushrangers were unable to overpower a strong Ovens Valley lineup, suffering a nine-wicket loss in quick fashion.
A small win came early for Benalla, with the toss going its way, however it wasn’t an omen for things to come.
Opting to bat, the Bushrangers were immediately under pressure even with Nathan Delaney smoking a four and a six off consecutive balls in the first over, as Mitchell Cooney would be forced to depart in the second, as Benalla slumped to 1-12 only eight balls into the innings.
Delaney’s early fireworks came to a premature end, too, as he managed only one additional boundary before he was trapped in front, the umpire raising the finger after adjudging him out LBW for 17, with Benalla on the back foot t 2-23 with four overs bowled.
Skipper Gary Priest found himself at the crease alongside Leigh Pollard, much earlier than either had anticipated, however, their stays were brief, with Priest (5) following Delaney back to the pavilion exactly one over later, while Pollard (6) lasted a further 10 deliveries, leaving the Bushrangers in trouble at 4-30 less than seven overs into the contest.
Mark Osborne and Matthew Priest were brought together in the middle and set about constructing a partnership for the fifth wicket and resurrecting the innings for Benalla, and for a while, they looked to be travelling steadily, adding 29 runs in their four overs together at the crease as the boundaries began to flow.
Two sixes in the 11th over had Osborne heaping some pressure back onto the Ovens Valley bowlers, however his luck didn’t extend to a third, bowled by Jason Gilbert for 15.
It opened the gates for the Tigers once more, as Gilbert snared the scalps of both Bryce Cooney and Josh Heylbut for ducks in his next set of six, and Harrison Skelton also for no score in the following over, as Benalla tumbled from 4-59 to 8-71 in a disastrous collapse.
Matthew Priest was still out in the middle, however, and looked to add as many runs as possible alongside number 10 James Ladd in the final five overs, but the pursuit of quick runs cost Ladd his wicket in the 18th over having added only seven, run out attempting a quick single to leave the Bushrangers nine down with 83 runs on the board.
The end was near, and it would come the following over, as Matthew Priest was bowled for a valiant 30, bringing Benalla’s innings to a close at 10-91 after 19 overs after a formidable showing from the Ovens Valley bowling cartel.
With only 92 runs to defend, the task was a tall one for the Bushrangers bowling lineup, however a steady start and an early breakthrough to Mark Osborne gave them hope, as Ovens Valley was reduced to 1-17 in the fifth over.
The Bushrangers would still need a little bit of luck, and some help from the Tigers’ batsmen, if they were to win it, but unfortunately, they received neither.
While the intent was there until the very end, Benalla was left with too few runs on the board, and the Ovens Valley performance with the bat was as impressive with the ball, as opener Cooper Thomason belted 55 not out, supported well by number three Benjamin McMasters who made an unbeaten 26, as they combined for an unbeaten 75-run stand to see their side home for a nine-wicket win in the 16th over.
The Bushrangers will have time off over the festive break to regroup before returning to action against Delatite in a one-day contest at RC McNamara Reserve in Myrtleford on January 10, before they get their shot at redemption against Ovens Valley a month later on February 14.
