Travelling to Victoria Park in Yarrawonga, the Bushrangers won the toss and elected to bat.
They found themselves a wicket down in just the third over as James Carboon fell victim to the bowling of Angus Heslin for just one run.
Charlie Bull would join him back in the sheds shortly after, having been run out on four, as Benalla found itself in trouble early.
Jonty Priest and skipper Brayden Stepien began what looked to be a promising partnership, withstanding nine overs of unrelenting bowling from the home side, before Stepien was bowled for what had been a patient 24 off 60 deliveries.
Priest and Lucas Ham were defiant in their time at the crease together, frustrating the Yarrawonga Mulwala bowling attack, but inevitably the hosts broke through, removing Ham for 16, with Priest going shortly thereafter for 17, and the floodgates opened.
The wickets came thick and fast from there, as the home side cleaned up the tail with relative ease, although Mitchell Wheelens (6 off 49) and Sameera Witharana (18 off 35) provided as much resistance as possible.
It was a brutal display from Yarrawonga Mulwala’s bowlers, particularly Angus Heslin (5-29), as they tore through Benalla in just 50.3 overs, ending the Bushrangers’ innings for just 95 runs.
With 21 overs left in the day, the home side’s openers padded up and got to work, but were well subdued by Benalla’s bowling attack.
Conor Brodie claimed the scalp of Ben Welsh (2), while not-out batters Reid Clarke and Van Kreeck were made to work hard to survive until stumps, facing 74 balls for 22 runs, and 39 deliveries for one run, respectively.
The Bushrangers have it all to do with the ball on day two, as Yarrawonga Mulwala resumes at 1-27, less than 70 runs from victory with nine wickets in hand.
The game
Benalla 10-95 (B. Stepien 24, J. Priest 17, A. Heslin 5-29) plays Yarrawonga Mulwala 1-27 (R. Clarke 22 n.o, B. Welsh 2, C. Brodie 1-15)
