Canning’s timely knock

Batsman’s big delivery after first grade elevation

THE long-awaited chance to build into a season is producing the goods for Gold Coast batsman Canning Mason.

The 25-year-old Kiwi was the glue holding the Dolphins innings together against Norths on Saturday at Bill Pippen Oval, arriving at the crease at 3-44 and not departing until the score had crept past 200.

Mason is in the form of his life, having hit two excellent hundreds in second grade and now, for the first time, truly proven himself in the top grade.

Before the weekend, Mason had managed only 75 runs in seven Queensland Premier Cricket innings including scores of two and nine from two starts this season.

But his stocks have taken a considerable rise, rewarding the selectors’ faith in recalling him by grafting 64 off 181 balls in a marathon knock spanning almost four hours.

“We needed to face quite a few deliveries and just wear them down a little bit. That was sort of the aim for the day really after we lost a few early (wickets),” Mason said.

Mason debuted for the Dolphins in 2008-09 as a junior but in recent seasons has only made a handful of fill-in appearances during his holidays from his studies across the ditch in Christchurch.

With his Master of Engineering (Mechanical) degree now completed, he is back on the Coast permanently and reaping the rewards on the field.

Mason put his form down to having a “decent pre-season” for the first time in years.

“Definitely a relief,” he said of his breakthrough knock.

“It’s good just to get and start feeling home really.”

Despite his efforts, the Dolphins remain in trouble with Norths 1-61 at stumps chasing Gold Coast’s 212.

Captain Daniel Doran took the sole wicket and is expected to play a key role on day two this Saturday alongside fellow spinner Matt Kuhnemann. involved at