Skittled: Benalla’s Priyank ‘Sunny’ Chohan rips through one of Rovers’ batters.
Photo by
Brenden Paddock
Benalla has been set a tall order by Rovers United Bruck in the Bushrangers’ final game for the season in WDCA A-grade.
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After losing the toss and being asked to bowl to start the two-day match, the Bushrangers made early inroads into the Rovers’ batting line-up, with bowlers Conor Brodie and Tyler Begnone dismissing both openers within the first couple of overs.
From there, the runs accumulated as the Rovers’ batters settled into their rhythm, eventually finishing the day’s play on 9-239.
However, Benalla captain Gary Priest isn’t too concerned about his side’s run chase this Saturday, as he believes as long as the Bushrangers keep wickets in hand, they should get the job done.
“It’s only 3.2 (runs) an over for the 75 overs, so if we are keeping wickets, we don’t have to score quickly or anything,“ he said.
“It’s just about batting out the overs and getting two or three runs an over for the first half (of their innings). It’s not actually that big of a total in the scheme of things.
“It’s just going to be wickets in hand; that will be the issue.”
The Bushrangers were led with the ball by star all-rounder Priyank ‘Sunny’ Chohan (3-57 from 21 overs) and Brodie (2-66 from 19), while Ross Cavill picked up late wickets to finish with 3-36 from his 16 overs.
Chohan has been a shining light for Benalla all season, taking 18 wickets and scoring 426 runs across 13 matches.
But although the Bushrangers know they have a star in Sunny, Priest believes bowlers Brodie and Cavill have more than demonstrated their talent this season.
“Conor Brodie, our opener, he is always consistent and taking wickets every game,” he said.
“I think he now has 31 wickets for the year and so that’s a pretty big achievement in itself.
“The other one would be Ross Cavill.
“A bit of a dot-ball specialist and picks up a few wickets here and there, but to be able to bowl so tight when needed. Definitely, those two (have stood out) in terms of their bowling.”
Benalla currently sits in last place on the A-grade ladder, but a win on Saturday could lift the Bushrangers up two spots into sixth.
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