Experience crucial in Dolphins’ chase
THEY are the guiding lights in a Gold Coast Dolphins side brimming with talented teens.
And Belinda McDougall and Roxanne Thomson know their experience could be the difference in tomorrow’s Katherine Raymont Shield final. Buoyed by a breakthrough first grade title in January’s T20 decider, the Dolphins have the chance to make it two on the trot when they face Wests (play starts 10am) in the one-day final at Allan Border Field.
Their run has been notable for the presence of a host of teenagers, with Grace Parsons, Ella Cornelius, Hiruni Liyanarachchi and Chelsea Gan defying their years to become the unexpected heroes of the Coast’s title assault.
But older heads McDougall and Thomson continue to serve as the backbone amid sporadic appearances from Queensland pair Delissa Kimmince and Sammy-Jo Johnson, with Thomson collecting a team-high 26 wickets at an average of 17.86 with her medium pace.
(WESTS) DID BEAT US TWO WEEKS AGO SO WE NEED TO BE WARY OF THAT
DOLPHIN BELINDA MCDOUGALL
McDougall, who has amassed 306 runs at 43.71 after returning mid-season from a 12-year break, said balancing out the team’s youthful exuberance was an important part of her role.
“I find when the (younger) girls have been captaining, they ask my advice, which is good. There’s a new way of playing now and you have got an older head there so combined we come up with a plan,” the 35-year-old, who made her Queensland Fire debut in 2001, said.
“I have been saying since I came back that I just can’t believe the standard of women’s cricket now. We used to play with eight girls and every club now has some real depth. The standard has improved out of sight.
“Wests are going to be down a couple of players (Courtney Sippel and Josie Dooley) but hopefully it will still be a good game. They did beat us two weeks ago so we need to be wary of that.”
That final-round fixture on February 25 came down to the second-last ball, with Wests scraping home in pursuit of 221 with two wickets to spare.
The Dolphins bounced back to trounce a fullstrength Sandgate-Redcliffe (185 all out) in last weekend’s semi final, claiming victory with seven wickets and more than 23 overs left.
Wests, who finished as minor premiers, chased down Valleys’ 9-230 in the 44th over just two wickets down.
“We know where we made mistakes (against Wests) and improved on those last weekend,” McDougall said.
Coast coach Garry Lovett said the players had well and truly earned their place in the final. “They have worked so hard all year and deserve the right to give themselves the chance to go back to back,” he said.