Travelling to Myrtleford to take on the Tigers for the round 11 match-up, Benalla won the toss and elected to bat, with skipper Brayden Stepien and James Carboon striding out to the middle to face the new ball.
Stepien, who found form with a blistering 90 off 73 against Wangaratta in round 10, was slightly more subdued on Saturday but no less effective, digging in alongside Carboon to produce a 93-run opening stand, with the skipper belting the majority of those runs.
Stepien made 60 off 63 deliveries, dispatching nine deliveries to the rope for four, as he once again set a platform for the rest of the side to build upon before being dismissed LBW by Geeth Alwis (4-40).
Unlike against Wangaratta, however, when the Magpies bowlers steamrolled the Bushrangers lineup, the Benalla batsmen were able to get on top, as Carboon (28) played a patient innings, as did Ross Cavill, who played a starring role at number three.
Cavill faced 147 deliveries in his stay at the crease, more than double the number of balls as his closest teammate, while plundering an unbeaten 73 to help his side set a more than competitive total.
Well supported by Charlie Bull (10 from 48 balls) and Lucas Ham (31), Cavill ensured the team total surpassed 200 for the first time all season, as the Bushrangers posted a huge 5-234d.
A bold declaration call late in the day meant the home side was left to negotiate a nasty five-over spell before stumps was called, with Conor Brodie and Bull peppering the Tigers openers; however, they survived unscathed at stumps with nine runs on the board.
Ovens Valley will resume day two at 0-9 with Gregor Fraser and Seamus Phillips at the crease, unbeaten on three and six respectively, with 226 runs still required for victory.
The game
Benalla 5-234d (Ross Cavill 73 not out, Brayden Stepien 60, Geeth Alwis 4-40) v Ovens Valley United 0-9 (Seamus Phillips 6no, Gregor Fraser 3no)
