HDCA Hurricanes Under-17 captain, Henry Bensch, has set the annual Warrnambool Colts Country Week carnival alight this week with some wonderful performances with both bat.

On the opening day of this week’s competition, Bensch lost the toss and was asked to bat first on what appeared to be a green, soft wicket, but it didn’t faze the Hurricanes skipper, as the team peeled off a target of 5-296 from 49 overs with Bensch leading the way with 116 from only 112 balls, a knock which included 15 boundaries and a further three maximums.

Bensch and George Huf (76) added 189 for the third wicket, as the team pasted the bowlers to all parts of the ground.

The skipper followed his batting performance after the lunch break with a miserly bowling stint which saw the all-rounder finish with 4-15 to claim the man of the match votes.

He followed this day one performance with a five-wicket haul (5-31) against Warrnambool Blue on Tuesday and a further four wickets (4-18) in the T20 match against Horsham in round four.

The haul against Warrnambool was the first time he has claimed a ‘Michelle’ (five wickets in an innings) in his career, so he is taking the next step in his development as both a batsman and a bowler.

He has learnt from all the representative cricket that he has played in his career to date, that bowling short only gets the ball hit too or over the fence, and he has concentrated on line and length with rewards flowing.

“I have looked to bowl full and straight to allow the ball to do the work,” Bensch said.

“It’s something I’ve really concentrated on this season with not only rep cricket but also back in A grade with College.”

“I’m really happy with how I have been hitting the ball this week and Monday it all came together.”

The innings was the second time the youngster posted the magical three figures (first time was against Dartmoor in D grade in 2019-20 as an Under-14 player), and it was his career high score too.

Bensch has also been selected to represent the Western Waves Region at Under-18 level against Barwon at Warrion later this month, while he will also play for Geelong in the Cricket Victoria Dowling Shield competition, which is the premier competition at the Under-17 level in the state.

The young leader has his sights firmly set on the future as he toys with playing a season overseas, while the prospect of premier cricket in Melbourne also appeals to the local.

“I really would like to have a season in England, playing over there after I finish school this year,” he said.

“That would be a great experience I reckon and then I can look to play premier cricket when I return.”

He continues to develop as not only a player but also as a leader, with the captaincy next to his name for this carnival just as it was last season and throughout his journey along the Cricket Victoria pathway.