Due to the weather, the game was shortened to 30 overs a side and delayed so the pitch could dry out as much as possible.
Losing the toss, the Bushies were sent in to bat.
Jack Fullager and Lee Brennan kicked things off but Fullager was soon sent back to the sheds after only posting three runs.
Leigh Pollard’s time at the crease was short-lived, unable to contribute any runs to the board.
Brennan’s new partner, Craig Williams, came in and together they started to make some impact on the run tally, Brennan making 24 and Williams 30.
Stewart McLeod (7) and Brendan Duncombe (4) didn’t leave the impression they were hoping for but Steve Pickering came in and blasted 21 off 15 to see out the overs with Mat Hadj (6 not out).
After the 30 overs, the Bushies had posted 111 runs.
Disappointed in himself for not getting more runs to his name, Duncombe stood tall with ball in hand and picked up 3-12 from 5.3 overs.
McLeod was relentless with the ball, claiming 2-17 from six overs, as were Brennan (2-19 from six) and Pollard (2-21 from five).
Yarrawonga’s danger man was one of their openers, Hudson Gillies, who made 51 runs. He was their main run scorer, as the Bushies restricted all the other batters to fewer than 12 runs.
When Gillies fell with the score 8-91 the game was there for the taking and the Bushies’ bowling attack did not give an inch, allowing only a further four runs to be made for the home side.
This was an amazing achievement by the B-grade side. To come home with the shield for a second season in a row is a huge endorsement for the club and the talent that is nurtured within the Bushrangers Cricket Club.
Final score:
Benalla: 6/111 (30 overs)
Yarrawonga: 10/95 (29.3)
Player of the match: Lee Brennan, Benalla Bushrangers
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