Bushrangers with massive chase ahead courtesy of Beechworth pair’s partnership

By Alexander Dabb

Mar 10, 2025

It was a frustrating day in the field for Benalla, as Beechworth piled on the runs following a fast start for the Bushrangers. Photo by Karl Phillipson

Benalla’s A-grade Bushrangers will require a big effort with the bat on day two of their clash against Beechworth if they are to finish the season on a high.

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Hosting the Wanderers at Benalla Gardens Oval for the final round of the home and away season, Benalla opted to bowl after winning the toss, and after three overs, looked to have made an inspired choice in taking the ball first up.

Charlie Bull found the first breakthrough of the contest to leave Beechworth one down for none after Clancy Ellett holed out for a duck, while Conor Brodie doubled the misery for the Wanderers by dismissing Kayde Surrey in the third over, as the visitors slumped to 2-1 inside 14 deliveries.

While the first three overs belonged to Benalla, the next 47 went the way of Beechworth, with a frustrating partnership for the fourth wicket yielding massive runs for the visitors.

Opener Jackson Cull departed in the 20th over for 17 at the hands of Ross Cavill having kept the scoreboard ticking over, but remaining at the crease was skipper Brenton Surrey, who was joined by Jack Ryan, and the pair settled in for the next 30 overs.

By the time the next breakthrough was found, Ryan had made his way to 82 at a strike rate of 90, while Surrey, removed a few overs later by Cavill, had worked his way to 93, taking Beechworth’s total past 200 with plenty of batsmen left in the sheds.

Campbell Fendyk was one of those, smacking 28 valuable runs down the order, as was Matthew Ryan, contributing another 20, as the Wanderers put up a huge total of 271 before being bowled out after 70.1 overs.

Cavill was the pick of Benalla’s bowlers, claiming four scalps for 68 runs, while Brodie, Bull, Cooper Binion and Mitchell Wheelens each finished up with one wicket, with run-outs accounting for the other two.

The Bushrangers were rather cruelly subjected to just one solitary over before stumps was called, which was safely navigated by skipper Brayden Stepien and James Carboon, finishing not out on one and four respectively.

Benalla will resume the chase at 0-5 on Saturday, needing 267 runs for victory.