Cricket: Gold Coast Dolphins cruise to seven-wicket win over Queens to take out All Ballsports T20 Cup

The Gold Coast Dolphins avenged their earlier demons in style as they cruised to a T20 premiership. Read how it unfolded and what sparked the charge.

Gold Coast Dolphins celebrate the All Ballsports T20 premiership for 2024. Picture: Gold Coast District Cricket Facebook.

The Gold Coast Dolphins avenged their round two demons on the final day of the All Ballsports T20 Cup competition to cruise to the title in style.

Queens total of 8-122 was no match for the Dolphins in the final, as they breezed past it in just 14.3 overs to secure a seven-wicket win.

Queens were the only side that had defeated the Dolphins in the round robin stage of the competition after routing them for 83 in round two, and it was that triumph that lit a fire in the belly of the premier side.

“That was our only loss in the round games, we failed to compete to be honest,” said Dolphins coach Simon Belston.

“There was a little bit of flavour on that going into the grand final to try and make sure we put a number on them and we did.

“We were very happy with the outcome.”

Judd Markham set the tone in the first over of the run chase when he crunched the off-spine of Jackson Winton for two boundaries in three balls.

Winton would dismiss Markham for 28 from 14 with the final ball of his second over, and struck again with his very next delivery Parth Bhatt walking and reduce the Dolphins to 2-41. It was the only sniff Queens had, as Lachlan Crump’s unbeaten 62 from 39 balls and a handy cameo of 23 from Sam McLean steered the Dolphins to a comfortable win.

The match was delayed for close to 10 minutes in the second innings after a spectator was struck in the head attempting to catch a six and had to be hospitalised.

In the first innings, a haul of 4-32 from Connor Brown restricted Queens’ promising start as they struggled to build momentum.

Belston was pleased with knocks Markham and Crump produced, and hoped it lay the foundation for strong seasons at premier level for the pair.

“Very classy, very good cricketers, they’re in for a big season hopefully,” Welston said.

“They were fantastic, it all came together very clinically in the end.”

Winning Dolphins captain Harry Ryan pictured batting for junior club Surfers Paradise. Pic Mike Batterham.

He was also impressed with how 19-year-old captain and third-grade player Harry Ryan had led the side.

“For Harry to get to work with this squad over the course of the five rounds he’s done a fantastic job,” Belston said.

“It’ll be a great learning opportunity with his leadership skills and I have no doubt that he’ll take plenty away from that.”

After poor showings in previous iterations of the Gold Coast T20 competition, Belston reiterated that it was crucial for the club to put its best foot forward this year.

“Over the last few years the Dolphins as a club have struggled to compete as a club, so I think it was important for us and for our club and our boys that we put a strong showing together,” he said.

“It’s been a very strong competition, you only have to see numerous clubs are bringing in premier and first-class cricketers … we’re very content with knowing that we’ve brought the right values and philosophies of what we wanted to get out of the competition.

“We believe we found the right balance with providing opportunity, development, and also bringing a touch of class, that’s what we’re about at the Dolphins.”

The Dolphins had to overcome the might of a Coomera side containing Big Bash stalwart James Bazley and the talented Nick Selman in the earlier semifinal.

Selman produced an unbeaten 69 from 63 balls to steer Coomera to 5-130, but the Dolphins needed just 14 overs to reel the total in with eight wickets to spare.

Markham (37 off 22 balls) and Crump were again the stars, as Crump powered his side to victory with 47 not out from just 28 deliveries.

“It was a super win, Coomera has been really strong throughout,” Belston said.

“Finals day cricket’s always exciting and we managed to get over the line.

“It was a very enjoyable campaign to be honest, we took plenty out of it, it was fantastic.”

Originally published as Cricket: Gold Coast Dolphins cruise to seven-wicket win over Queens to take out All Ballsports T20 Cup