Playing at Norm Minns Oval in Wangaratta the Bushrangers lost the toss and were asked to bowl first, but having backed themselves to set a total with the bat, it was Wangaratta that made all the early headway.
The opening pair would put on 47 runs before Charlie Bull (1-25) found a breakthrough for Benalla, dismissing opposition skipper Cooper Matheson (32), before Josh Hart (1-29) snared the wicket of new batsman James Thewlis shortly after to reduce the Magpies to 2-52.
The wickets would be few and far between from there for Benalla however, as the second-placed Wangaratta pushed on towards a big score.
The Magpies middle order proved a handful, as all batsmen from number four through to number seven made at least 26, with Oliver Andrew (45) and Fraser Ellis (37 not-out) the pick of the Wangaratta bunch, helping steer their side to a big total of 7-218 from their 40 overs.
Conor Brodie received some reward for his toil with the ball, claiming 2-41 as the only multiple wicket-taker for Benalla in what was a tough slog in the field.
With an imposing total before them, the Bushrangers needed a spark to ignite the run chase, and the devastating power of skipper Stepien was exactly that.
Striding out to the middle to open alongside James Carboon, Stepien terrorised the Wangaratta bowlers, belting 12 boundaries in his 73-ball stay at the crease, amassing a quick-fire 90 runs at a strike rate of 123.28 to set the Bushrangers on course for victory.
Unfortunately for Benalla however, the Wangaratta bowling attack was far too strong, and when Stepien was caught off the bowling of Kyle Winter-Irving, the Bushrangers fell to 4-125, the skipper having made the bulk of the runs that were on the board.
The lower order had no answer for the Magpies bowlers, as including the wicket of Stepien, they suffered a collapse of 6-35, limping to a total of 8-173 from the 40 overs, after what looked to be a promising start to the chase.
Charlie Bull was the next best of the Benalla batsmen, making 20, while Kyle Winter-Irving topped an all-round bowling performance from Wangaratta with figures of 2-22.
Benalla will look to make amends next week when they take on Ovens Valley United in a two-day clash at RC McNamara Reserve in Myrtleford, with the Bushrangers still on the hunt for their first win this season.
The Game
Wangaratta Magpies 7-218 (Oliver Andrew 45, Fraser Ellis 37 not out, Conor Brodie 2-41) def Benalla Bushrangers 8-173 (Brayden Stepien 90, Charlie Bull 20, Kyle Winter-Irving 2-22)
