OH SO CLOSE FOR DOLPHINS
HOWARD Biddle has become an instant hero after the allrounder clouted a last-ball boundary to snap Gold Coast’s Brisbane Premier Grade losing streak. Needing seven off six balls to win their Twenty20 clash against Souths yesterday, Biddle’s unbeaten 35 proved telling at Trevor Hohns Field. Lewin Maladay’s spectacular leaping attempt at a catch off Souths batsman Jamie Eccles (pictured) summed up a weekend of close calls.
A PAIR of old stagers have let Kookaburra Cup surprise packets Burleigh and Helensvale Pacific Pines know exactly where they stand in the local pecking order.
Veteran paceman Reece McDonald and spinner Ryan Kettle took four wickets each in big wins against pre-festive season improvers Burleigh and Helensvale respectively.
McDonald, for many seasons part of the local scene’s elite fast bowlers, was superb as Broadbeach Robina crushed Burleigh at the latter’s home ground at Avid Concrete Oval.
McDonald took startling figures of 4-9 from eight overs as the Cats (2-79) easily disposed of Burleigh (77) and moved to the top of the points ladder Ahead of premiers Queens, who had the weekend bye.
McDonald took two wickets in his first over – Burleigh openers Simon Belston and Ed Burton, both for ducks – and then the competition’s leading scorer Rhys McCarthy (3) soon after.
Veteran Cat Ryan Armstrong said it was inevitable that McDonald was going to be deadly on a well-grassed wicket.
“When you have somebody of the calibre of Reece McDonald bowling good balls it’s (wickets) are just going to happen,” Armstrong said.
Down at Salk Oval, Kettle finished with 4-24 from eight overs as Palm Beach Currumbin (6-211) put Helensvale (103) to the sword.
The Lions were set up by playing coach, opener Jerry Cassell, who smacked a breezy 88 from as many deliveries, and was backed up by Dale Neuhaus’s 65.
Two former Gold Coast Dolphins stars were also in on the action on Saturday.
Coomera Hope Island playing
coach Andrew Robinson was in sparkling touch with an unbeaten 108 off 92 balls (nine fours and a six) as the Crocs (1-147) beat Mudgeeraba Nerang (144) at Nerang RSL Club Oval.
Fellow former Dolphin Chris Swan scored 60 and Sam Day (58) as Surfers (2-160) easily ran down Runaway Bay’s 8-159 at David Johnston Oval.
And at Griffith University Gold Coast Sports Oval, Southport Labrador dismissed struggling Alberton for 146 before responding with 3-149 (Wade Kilborn 61 not out).