It was a tough weekend for the Benalla Bushrangers with all four senior cricket outfits suffering defeats.
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In round nine Wangaratta District Cricket Association matches, Benalla’s A-grade team was unable to negate a strong Rovers United Bruck unit at W. J. Findlay Oval.
The Bushrangers’ top-flight outfit went down by 139 runs to the ladder leader.
United got off to a stellar start with the bat and posted a commanding total of 8-212 from 40 overs.
Brendan Duncombe (2-24), Matthew Priest (2-36) and Simon Briggs (2-44) were the multiple wicket takers for the Bushrangers.
The visitors were then called upon to chase down the total.
Despite reaching 20 runs for no loss of wickets the Bushrangers could only muster 73 runs in reply.
Gary Priest tried his hardest with 20 runs but the day belonged to United’s Matthew Winter who claimed a remarkable 5-7.
The result keeps Benalla locked in seventh spot on the A-grade ladder.
Meanwhile, A-Reserve went down fighting in its loss to Rovers United.
The Hawks batted first and posted 5-192 from 36 overs, with the Bushrangers’ Steven Pickering the pick of the bowlers with 3-42.
Brendan Anderson enjoyed a fine day behind the stumps with two catches and a stumping.
In the run-chase disaster struck early and Benalla was soon left reeling at 4-32, before the home side was bundled all out for 115 in the 22nd over.
Gurpreet Singh was a shining light in defeat with a quick-fire 27 runs from 20 deliveries.
Lastly, Benalla’s B-grade and C-grade outfits settled for five- and seven-wicket losses respectively.
In B-grade, the Bushrangers were no match for Millawa while Yarrawonga-Mulwala was far too dominant in C-grade.
Flynn Weeks was a standout in C-grade with a brave 49 not out and was unlucky to not bring up a deserving half-century.