Premier Cricket: Jonty Rushton leads Northcote turnaround against Monash Tigers
NORTHCOTE staged a remarkable fightback to record an 86-run victory over Monash Tigers on Saturday and push closer to the Premier Cricket top eight.
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NORTHCOTE staged a remarkable fightback to record an 86-run victory over Monash Tigers on Saturday and push closer to the Premier Cricket top eight.
The Dragons were staring at their fifth loss of the season when they crumbled to 6-92 at Central Reserve, before Jonty Rushton and Blayde Baker kickstarted their side’s revival.
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Rushton hammered eight boundaries and a six, clubbing 65 from 62 balls in a 93-run seventh-wicket partnership with Baker.
The Northcote skipper compiled 37 from 52 deliveries, adding a further 29 runs with George Garton (15) to lift the visitors to 227.
“The idea for me and Jonty was to go as deep as we could and have wickets in the shed to have a crack and post a good total,” Baker said.
“We thought 230 in the end was a good result.”
Rushton’s half-century was his best score since arriving at Bill Lawry Oval from Ringwood during the winter.
“He’s a good all-round cricketer,” Baker said.
“He offers a lot with the ball and he’s a good fielder. He’s slotted into the side really well.”
The Tigers crashed to 7-62 and there was to be no repeat of Northcote’s recovery, despite a 50-run last-wicket partnership between Sam Mills (45) and Lachlan Fitzpatrick (19 not out) delaying the Dragons’ celebrations.
Fair effort by @nccdragons to post 227 after being 6-92 vs @MonashTigers in @vicpremcricket. Jonty Rushton & Blayde Baker led the fightback.
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) December 1, 2018
Off-spinners Aaron Crispe (3-22) and Matt Short (2-35) were outstanding, capitalising on spin-friendly conditions.
Baker praised the performance of Crispe, who produced his best figures of the campaign to bowl Northcote to victory.
“It’s probably the best he has bowled with the white ball,” he said.
“He was really good at St Kilda a few weeks ago. He bowled about 35 overs on the bounce. “White-ball wise, he has been getting really good curl and spin on the ball.”
Michael Edwards (2-42) claimed two key top-order scalps during Monash’s chase.
With a two-day fixture against Prahran and one-dayer against Geelong to come, the Dragons are eyeing a top-eight spot at Christmas.
“Two more wins before Christmas would be huge,” Baker said.
“That’s definitely the aim. Be in the eight at Christmas, hopefully, then we can go from there.”
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