Teen tyros will blast Dolphins into a new era
GOLD Coast will embrace fearless, modern cricket by sending out two master blasters to smash the new-ball attack of heavyweight rivals University of Queensland.
The Dolphins have handed Scott Palombo his Queensland Premier Cricket debut to open the batting alongside fellow teenager Max Bryant.
Palombo may have to wait though, with persistent rain putting the first half of the twoday clash at WEP Harris Oval in St Lucia in doubt.
The Southport School graduate’s promotion comes after he blazed 120 off 95 balls a fortnight ago in second grade against Toombul.
The knock took his season tally to 712 runs at an average of 37.47, though that was the first occasion he had converted a start into triple figures.
His previous eight innings all ended between 29 and 66.
“Scotty is an aggressive batsman at the top of the order and he has put up some great numbers over the last couple of months,” said Dolphins coach Damian Wallis.
“It was good to see him last game get that hundred because he has got quite a few fifties and by all reports he has been doing it easy and taking a few attacks apart.”
Palombo and Bryant will try to put UQ on the back foot early but they won’t have it easy, given Scott Walter’s presence. Walter has enjoyed another stellar campaign with 51 wickets at 11.9.
“But if these two get going, they are definitely the new generation of player and hit the ball very hard and play with no fear,” Wallis said.
Palombo replaces Jack Hargreaves, while Michael Neser will return for the second Saturday of the match. Neser will slot in for Trent Arnold, who was only available for day one due to work.
The match is the final round of the regular season; victory would mean the Dolphins dodge the wooden spoon.