The Bushies made the trek out to Baarmutha Park and after losing the toss were asked to bowl by the home side.
It would be a solid start from the Wanderers, who made it to 26 without loss, until Conor Brodie (1-21) made the breakthrough to remove opener Kade Surrey (12).
Fellow opener Clancy Ellett and new batsman Jackson Cull formed a frustrating partnership for Beechworth, adding 49 runs together before Ross Cavill (1-13) was able to remove Ellett (33), while Charlie Bull (1-18) joined the party seven balls later to send Cull (20) back to the sheds.
Jack Ryan caused headaches for Benalla at number five, smacking 30 off just 24 balls and propelling Beechworth past 100, however Sameera Witharana was able to find a way through and dismiss Ryan, which prompted a big collapse.
Sitting pretty at 3-119, the wicket of Ryan saw Beechworth lose 7-15 as Witharana (3-20) and Cooper Binion (4-39) tore through the tail, dismissing four of the Beechworth bottom five for ducks to bowl the home side out for 134.
A superb bowling effort to end the Wanderers innings was strengthened by a hot start with the bat by Benalla skipper Brayden Stepien, who exploded with seven boundaries en route to a quick-fire 42 off 32 deliveries.
After putting on 48 runs alongside James Carboon for the first wicket, it would be Carboon (7) that departed first, caught off the bowling of Brenton Surrey (2-20), however Stepien’s innings came to a close shortly after, dismissed by Kayde Surrey (3-10) to leave Benalla two down for 62.
Ross Cavill (6) and Charlie Bull (9) were unable to capitalise on their starts, and while Jonty Priest tried to steady the ship with a patient knock, he too was dismissed, departing for 19 off 57 deliveries.
Unfortunately for Benalla, the tail was unable to wag enough to get over the line, with no-one batting below number five able to make it into double digits, leading the visitors to be bowled out for 119, 16 runs shy of a victory.
The hunt for an elusive win continues into what is an extended period away from home for the Bushrangers, who face Wangaratta Magpies in a one-day clash in Wangaratta next week before three consecutive two-day fixtures on the road, with their next home match not until the final round of the home-and-away season.
The Game
Beechworth 10-134 (C Ellett 33, J Ryan 30, K Surrey 3-10) def Benalla 10-119 (B Stepien 42, J Priest 19, C Binion 4-39)
