Gold Coast Dolphins: Spin twins Matt Kuhnemann and Hugo Burdon clean up Toombul

The Gold Coast Dolphins have notched their first scalp of the Bulls Masters First Grade season with a four-wicket victory over Toombul in Brisbane.

Matt Kuhnemann has been picked in the Brisbane Heat team for this years Big Bash. Pic Tim Marsden

The Gold Coast Dolphins have notched their first scalp of the Bulls Masters First Grade season with a four-wicket victory over Toombul in Brisbane.

The spin-twin bowling attack of Hugo Burdon and Matt Kuhnemann wreaked havoc on the Bulls middle order despite playing on some of the shortest boundaries in the competition.

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Teenager Burdon was the star of the day with three key wickets, including former Test batsman Matt Renshaw, to stall the Bulls momentum after opening the day 0-73 against the Dolphins pace attack.

Day two of Queensland Premier Cricket game between Gold Coast and Valleys at Bill Pippen Oval, Robina. Dolphins batsman Hugo Burdon. Pic Mike Batterham

After bowling Toombul out for 227 Burdon posted 73 runs from 98 balls to place the game firmly under the Gold Coast’s control.

Debutant paceman Kyle Wisniewski, who joined the team from Tasmania this off-season, said the 18-year-old had quite a day.

“Hugo bowled really well,” the right-arm quick said.

“He got Renshaw out and broke open their middle order which prevented their flow a little bit and allowed us to get back in the game.

“He helped in a run-out and took a few catches in the field.

“He saw the rock and everyone else batted around him.

“Most people at least got starts and everyone got a little time in the middle.

“For a first game it’s good to get the win and some time out in the middle.”

CTPL Glenorchy v South Hobart Sandy Bay. Bowling star, Kyle Wisniewski bowling. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Wisniewski mopped up the tail with four of the last five wickets for 38 runs in his first six overs in Queensland cricket.

All-rounder Josh Kann finished the day 68 not-out from 51 balls and took one wicket from his four overs.

Kuhnemann was unfortunate not to collect more scalps from his economical 10 overs, ending the day with figures of 1-26 on a field traditionally found expensive for spinners.

EARLIER

THE Gold Coast Dolphins will open the 2020/21 Bulls Masters First Grade premiership season in Brisbane with a clash against former Australian test bat Matthew Renshaw.

The 24-year-old Queensland opener played his last of 11 tests for Australia on the infamous ‘sandpaper-gate’ tour of South Africa in March 2018.

Unwanted since, Renshaw has plans to relaunch his representative career with a strong season in First Grade with Toombul.

The Gold Coast Dolphins, spearheaded by state representative bowlers Xavier Bartlett and Matt Kuhnemann, stand in his way.

Coach Chris Swan said his entire team, not just the bowlers, were primed to play against the best.

Matt Kuhnemann has been picked in the Brisbane Heat team for this years Big Bash. Pic Tim Marsden

“Xavier and Matt will be leading the way with the ball but Nathan Lyons is coming off his best season ever so he’ll look to hit the ground running,” the coach said.

“Toombull is a small ground so (just scoring) 60s doesn’t win games of cricket.

“Hopefully some of our guys can occupy the crease and do that (instead).”

A disrupted off-season could help last year’s breakout star bats Liam Hope-Shackley and Hugo Burdon pick up from where they left off.

The Dolphins will depend on them to rise to new heights if the club hopes to improve on last year’s semi-final finish, where the team was knocked off by University of Queensland.

Their journey back to the finals begins Saturday with a road-trip to north Brisbane to take on the Toombul Bulls.

“We’ve got to start better than last year, that’s for sure,” coach Swan said.

“We had a poor start to last season after losing a few players during the off-season.

“This year it’s the complete opposite but through COVID we’ve all sorts of interruptions.

“This year it’s important to hit the ground running.”