Northcote avoided the COVID carnage and claimed a clinical win over Prahran

Premier Cricket’s return was thrown into chaos over COVID but Northcote managed to avoid the carnage and secure a clinical win over Prahran.

Northcote’s Mark Phelan batting. Picture: George Sal

Northcote dodged Premier Cricket’s COVID chaos and secured a “business-like” six-wicket win over Prahran on Saturday.

The Dragons were counting their lucky stars when as many as 17 players came out of quarantine last week, just in time for cricket’s 2022 return.

While some rivals were missing a handful of players, Northcote’s First XI was untouched and took full advantage to knock of the reigning premier at Toorak Park.

In a rain-shortened 34-over match, a four-wicket haul from Roby Lane and half century from Mark Phelan helped the Dragons chase down the True Blues’ 8-138 with two overs to spare.

“It was a mature, business-like performance, moreso for the fact we didn’t train at all during the week, we trained by ourselves,” coach Warren Pereara said.

Northcote bowler Michael Topp. Picture: Steve Tanner

“The key message was to find our groove again after Christmas … we bowled really well and then we were 2-8 but a couple of good partnerships got us home.

“We were lucky, as of Tuesday we had 17 (in quarantine) but they all came out on Wednesday and Thursday because of Boxing Day.

“We’ve got another two players coming out today (Sunday), another on Tuesday and we still had three or four players in our lower grades have to pull out on Friday night.”

Northcote were 2-5 as Prahran spearhead Matt Wilcox removed Jonty Rushton and Josh Sundberg for ducks.

However, Phelan (67), Jack Lalor (34) and Jaga Koduru (26 not out) steadied the ship and steered it home.

“Phelo skippered the batting innings, he was very much in control, and then Jack continued his form and Jaga continued his growth,” Pereara said.

“He hit the ball off his legs really well, found the gaps really well, a really good knock in the conditions.

“I don’t think there was any panic, we’ve got a high level of faith in the guys and they’ve got a similar belief in their batting ability.

Mark Phelan batting for Northcote. Picture: George Sal

“To have Jaga and five and Max (O’Sullivan) at six, even Blayde (Baker) at seven, it a nice luxury.

“To chase that down in 32 overs, I said to the lads, without batting stupidly you’re 140 from 32 overs and you do that in a normal game you set yourself up to make 200 to 240 every week.”

Earlier, Prahran captain Jake Hancock (37) looked in good touch before becoming Lane’s first victim of the day.

Lane, a left-arm off-spinner, tore through the home team’s middle order, also removing Nick Morrey (24), Bailey Moon and Blake Parsons to finish with 4-34.

The haul takes him to 12 wickets for the season, equal fifth in Premier Cricket.

Pereara had nothing but praise for his young spinner.

“He bowled really well, you take away one over that went for 10 and his last ball went for six and it’s an extremely good spell,” he said.

“He read the conditions really well and got the key wicket of Hancock, he’s bowled really well all year to be honest.

“He’s very unassuming, very popular amongst the group, he has natural drift and variation and reads the play quite well, he’s a smart cricketer.”

PREMIER: BRILLIANT MANDERS BLITZES BOMBERS

LEADER: GET YOUR PREMIER CRICKET NEWS HERE

PREMIER: SAINTS SNAFFLE THRILLING WIN OVER CATS

The win puts Northcote in third after six matches.

The Dragons are desperate to avoid a repeat of last season’s collapse that saw them go from second at Christmas to missing finals.

“It’s important to start well, last year I think people got excited at Christmas and we dropped away,” Pereara said.

Northcote return to Bill Lawry Oval on Saturday where they will host Richmond and red-hot paceman Dom Matarazzo, fresh of an eight-wicket haul.