FELDMAN FIRES NORTHS PAST DOLPHINS
A LUKE Feldman-led Northern Suburbs bowling attack has ripped through the Gold Coast middle-order and dealt a knockout blow to the Dolphins’ Queensland Premier Cricket two-day finals hopes.
Feldman claimed figures of 4/22 from 11 overs and was at one point on a hat-trick as the former Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls pace ace proved the difference for the competition leaders.
The Dolphins returned to Ian Healy Oval on Saturday chasing 297 for a first innings victory but could muster just 142 in reply.
Sent into bat again, Hugo Burdon’s men put up a better showing in the second innings to reach 5/167 at the close of play – but it was ultimately for naught.
After dominating the final session of Norths’ innings the previous weekend and with plenty of batting power restored to its line-up for the ensuing run chase, Gold Coast had every chance of causing a road upset on Saturday.
However the chase was immediately hampered when Scott Palombo was sent from the crease for just eight runs, before opening partner Jared Spies (6) was run out not long after.
Max Bryant (27 off 54) and Burdon (15 off 48) spent time at the crease attempting to right the ship, but struggled to get much going in the face of a quality Norths attack.
When Burdon was sent to the sheds and the Dolphins’ leading run-scorer Joshua Kann joined the fray, only to have his bails removed by Feldman for a first-ball duck, the visitors were left with a mountain to climb at 4/56.
Liam Hope-Shackley proved a bright spark, smashing five boundaries including three sixes to race to 40 off 47 before he too was dismissed by Feldman – all-but dashing the Dolphins’ first innings hopes.
Palombo (45 off 52) and Kann (38 off 31) were the Dolphins’ best performed in the second innings. HopeShackley ended the day 27 not out alongside Burdon, also with an unbeaten 27.
Not since November 14 away to Sandgate-Redcliffe has Gold Coast notched a two-day win – its only such result of the 2020-21 season.
With just two rounds to play before finals and a 21point gap between the Dolphins and fourth-ranked Western Suburbs prior to Saturday’s result, a top four finish appears all but unattainable. The Dolphins are at home next weekend to host Redlands.