The black and white have shot to the top of the ladder after the first week of the WDCA A grade T20 competition.

Taking on Beechworth Wanderers and Benalla Bushrangers back-to-back on Saturday, the Magpies were able secure the wins in both of their matches.

Starting their campaign against the Wanderers on foreign soil at Baarmutha Park, the Magpies’ bowling would prove to be superior, able to defend their total of 120 by just seven runs.

Batting first, skipper Cooper Matheson led the way with the willow, hammering 30 off 17 at the top of the order.

Tyler Nanson (13 off 14) batted well alongside him, but Beechworth were on top after quickly removing David Killen (second ball duck) and James Thewlis (seven off nine).

Jack Davies stood as the anchor, playing a composed innings while allowing his batting partners to be more aggressive.

While the plan didn’t always come off, Davies’ 23 from 35 allowed his team to post 120 from their 20 overs, meaning Beechworth had to go better than a run a ball for the entire innings.

All the Wanderers’ bowlers picked up poles, with Richard Worcester (3/19 off four) and Campbell Fendyk (2/13 off four) the pick of the bowlers.

Beechworth needed to build patronships and cash in with the bat, but Killen had other plans, knocking over Will Prebble in the second over.

Brenton Surrey and Clancy Ellett both found their way to 21 before departing, as Nick Stebnyckyj (1/15 from two) and Thomas Rosser (1/13 from two) were brought into the attack.

The bulk of the damage would be done by Nanson, who blew through the tail targeting the stumps, finishing with 4/18 off his four overs.

The Beechworth result was just the beginning, with the Magpies having to shoot down the road back to Wangaratta to take on Benalla Bushrangers at Norm Minns Oval.

Again sent in to bat first, the ‘Pies put 142 runs on the board for the loss of seven wickets.

Nanson continued his good day overall, striking 37 from 22 balls to help the ‘Pies off to a flier.

Matheson and Nanson would put on a quickfire 40 together before Matheson was bowled by Vishal Sharma for 11.

Nanson would be the next to go, but strong knocks from Thewlis (21 off 28), Killen (10 off 11) and Davies (24 off 25) would keep the run rate elevated.

A spectacular rear-guard innings from Jarryd Wallace (20* from 13) would see the ‘Pies post a competitive 142.

Xavier De Fazio and Dale Stratton were among the best bowlers for the Bushrangers, each finishing with 1/19 from their four overs.

The Bushrangers needed 7.15 runs an over from the very first ball, with Brayden Stepien hammering 20 from 15 to set them up early.

Vishal Sharma had the magic touch, his immaculate innings of 56 from just 29 deliveries saw the Bushrangers rise above the required run rate in the eighth over.

Benalla would stay on top of the equation for the next 10 overs – no matter how many wickets the Magpies picked up, the run rate was still healthy.

At the start of the 18th, Benalla needed 20 to win, but tight bowling from Killen and Nanson – including two run outs in the final three deliveries – saw Wangaratta complete the perfect weekend.

Fraser Ellis was economical, going at under 4.5 runs an over for his spell, taking 2/17.

There are three more rounds of T20 competition before the top two sides play off in the grand final on Saturday, 20 December.