Borella blazed 43 off just 23 balls, with two sixes and five fours, as North Albury swept Wodonga aside by eight wickets at Les Cheesley Oval on Saturday.

His opening partner, Tim Hartshorn, had the best seat in the house as Borella teed off during their stand of 87.

"It's so good to bat with a quality player like Ash Borella," Hartshorn said.

"He's been top of the runs for years but with Matt Condon coming on board (as coach) this year, he's challenged Ash and lifted him another 20 percent.

"I fear for some of the bowlers later on in the comp when Ash really hits his stride because he's going to be deadly.

"It makes my job easy because they take it a bit easier on me. They're just happy to get Ash off strike!"

But that particular tactic was futile on Saturday, with Hartshorn imperious at the other end on his way to 46.

The timing and placement of his shots was impeccable, with eight boundaries the highlight of his 36-ball stay at the crease, until he was expertly caught by Michael Grohmann off the bowling of Murray Price.

"Cricket's a fickle game, isn't it?" Hartshorn smiled.

"You do all the hard work but then you get a rank half-tracker and you put it straight to the fielder.

"But that's the way it goes and I've got full confidence in the blokes behind me so that takes the pressure off."

Sure enough, David Farrell (21) and Ben Fulford (6) steered North Albury to a routine victory with five overs to spare.

Hartshorn's brilliant knock capped off a fine all-round performance after he'd earlier picked up 2-19 as Wodonga laboured to 9/121 in their 20 overs.

Tom Johnson and Jack Gilbee both contributed 24 but the Dogs were given precious little wriggle-room by North Albury's relentless attack.

Ryan Addison (3-22) and Haydyn Roberts (2-22) did plenty of damage while Blake Elliott finished his four overs with 1-20.

Will Ashton, Bob Jackson and Cameron Suidgeest all got starts but failed to reach 20 as wickets kept tumbling.

"Any time you can win here is great," Hartshorn said.

ALSO IN SPORT

"Our execution with the ball is a big focus this year. At training, Matt's really made us think about our bowling and not just thinking about yourself but how you can set up for the next person.

"That's even going for the first and sixth ball of the over, trying to get someone off strike, a quality player like Tom Johnson, so you can build the pressure.

"The only way you can get him out is he gets himself out because he's such a good player.

"It's the same with someone like Robbie Jackson."

Hartshorn, who was this week named in the Border Bullets squad, is excited by the quality the Hoppers currently boast.

"Our depth is unreal," he said.

"Tom Hemsley's missing out, a premiership player, but we've brought in someone like Riley Holland and 17-year-old Blake Elliott, who's come in this year and got nearly every best bat out."

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