Benalla Bushrangers’ under-12 Red side claimed the WDCA U12 Gold division premiership on Saturday. Photo: Benalla Bushrangers CC.
Benalla’s under-12 Red side has been crowned champion of the Wangaratta and District Cricket Association under-12 Gold division, claiming premiership glory at Arundel Street Oval on Saturday morning over Yarrawonga-Mulwala Bulls to cap a brilliant season that saw the side drop just one game.
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Finishing on top of the ladder with a 9-1 record and winning through to the decider with a semi-final victory last weekend over clubmates Benalla Green, the Benalla Red players, led by coach Duncan McKenzie, held their nerve to deliver a brilliant bowling performance and secure a 17-run victory to lift the shield.
Losing the toss and being sent in to bat, the Bushrangers got off to a great start through co-captains and opening batters Jack McKenzie and Toby Smith, who immediately set about building a competitive total.
Smith set the tone early for Benalla, retiring not out on 13 from 15 deliveries, while McKenzie belted two fours and was equally as productive at the other end, making a run-a-ball 12 before becoming the first wicket to fall, as Benalla was reduced to 1-26.
New batters Luke Conway and Ewan Patel added five and six, respectively, although both fell in quick succession, as the Bushrangers slumped to 2-45 and then 3-46 as the two departed.
Isla Walker and Izayah Williams continued to advance the team total, with Walker retiring not out (5 from 15) and Williams adding 10, before holing out to leave Benalla at 4-67.
Bailey King and Tulson Reynolds each added one before their innings were cut short, while Maximus Reynold finished unbeaten on five, as Benalla managed to post a solid total of 8-82 before the innings came to an end in the 15th over.
Benalla Red under-12 co-captains Jack McKenzie (left) and Toby Smith (right) with coach Duncan McKenzie following the premiership triumph.
Setting the Bulls a total of 83 to win, the Bushrangers’ turn in the field got off to the perfect start, as Neev Patel (2-4) snared a caught and bowled with the fourth delivery of the innings, leaving Yarrawonga-Mulwala 1-2 early, before following it up with another scalp with the very next delivery.
The visitors would rally, though, adding 16 for the third wicket as they attempted to fight their way back into the contest; however, co-captain Smith (1-2) managed to break the partnership with his first of the contest, reducing the Bulls to 3-18, while Maximus Reynolds (1-9) made it 4-18 two balls later with his first ball of the game.
Williams (1-6) joined the party the following over, seeing the Bulls fall to 5-26, which became 6-34 as McKenzie and Conway combined for a run out, and the Bushrangers could sense that victory was near.
A 21-run stand for the seventh wicket threatened to change that, though, as the Bulls fought back hard, racing to 6-55 before Walker (1-10) broke through to claim the seventh scalp.
The Bulls would add another 10 runs, with a few retiring not out, before co-captain McKenzie (1-5) snared the final wicket to end the Yarrawonga-Mulwala innings at 8-65 in the 17th over, and with it, claim the under-12 Gold division premiership.
Having retired not out on 13 from 15 deliveries and finishing with figures of 1-2 with the ball while bowling the only maiden of the game, Bushrangers co-captain Toby Smith was awarded the player of the match medal.
