Bennett impresses in Delatite loss to Benalla

FOR the last round of the year, Delatite’s B-Grade cricketers travelled to the always picturesque Benalla rose gardens to take on the Bushrangers, with the result reflecting their respective lowly and lofty positions on the ladder. Benalla elected to bat and came out with all guns blazing, reaching 50 in five overs mostly at the hands of Vishal Sharma, who reached his own personal half-century in the seventh over. A brace of wickets to Andrew Cook slowed the run-rate somewhat, but Benalla continued to bat with confidence and continued scoring at a healthy rate throughout their innings. The introduction of Al Bennett to the attack brought immediate and regular dividends, taking a wicket in each of his first three overs. A fourth in his fifth over put him on target for the first B-Grade 5-for in a number of years, however fate proved to be against him as first a wicket on a no ball, then a catch that was adjudged to have grounded denied him his rightful mantlepiece trophy. Benalla reached the imposing total of 7/209, with Bennet finishing on a superb 4/28 followed by Cook with 2/29. Delatite’s reply innings started with almost equal gusto, with 12 taken off the first over. Unfortunately, Delatite’s batters were up against the swing and focused pace of Benalla’s Stewart McLeod, who soon carved his way through Delatite’s top order, finishing his spell of 8 overs with 5/17, earning him a match ball trophy that was so very nearly earned by Bennett. After tearing out the heart of Delatite’s top order the Bushrangers continued taking wickets, with opener Koby Middleton (18 off 57 balls) watching as partners fell around him. Rearguard innings from Cook (11) and Luke Jenkins (20) boosted Delatite’s final score to 91. The B-Grade team thank all those who have put their hand up to play or fill in so far this season, and despite most results not going our way the on-field attitude of the team is always positive and never dims. With a relaxing Christmas and New Year break ahead, the team hope to return to the game refreshed in mid-January when they travel north to face league-leaders Yarrawonga-Mulwala.

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