Gold Coast Dolphins to play rain-shortened first grade game against Wynnum-Manly at Robina tomorrow

Gold Coast captain Matt Kuhnemann says tomorrow’s rain-shortened battle with Wynnum-Manly could play into the Dolphins’ hands as they look to knock off a fellow Queensland Premier Cricket finals hopeful.

Brent O’Neill

2 min read

January 24, 2020 - 1:48PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

Cricket

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GOLD Coast captain Matt Kuhnemann says tomorrow’s rain-shortened battle with Wynnum-Manly could play into the Dolphins’ hands as they look to knock off a fellow Queensland Premier Cricket finals hopeful.

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With last Saturday’s downpour ensuring no play was possible on day one of the Round 17 encounter, the fifth-placed Dolphins will head to Bill Pippen Oval at 10am tomorrow for a one-day clash with only half the points available from a two-day victory.

While they lost two of their three 50-over fixtures to start the season, Gold Coast hit form in the Twenty20s throughout December-January and were unlucky to miss the semi-finals after winning four of six games.

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With noted hitters Max Bryant, Jack Cooper, Liam Hope-Shackley and Josh Kann in the side, Kuhnemann said he was confident of overcoming a Wynnum-Manly outfit sitting eighth but still in the top-four hunt.

Dolphins batsman Hugo Burdon in action against Valleys earlier this month. Picture: Mike Batterham

“Our track record hasn’t been great in one-dayers the last few years but I think we took a step forward playing the Twenty20s a couple of weeks ago. Our top four have a role and the others know their roles too,” the left-arm offspinner said.

“In the context of the season, every game is vital with the points to get us in the finals. This is a big opportunity for us to have a win and take some momentum into the last few rounds.”

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The inclusion of out-of-favour Brisbane Heat batsman Bryant is the only change to the Dolphins team that was due to take the field last Saturday, with Andrew Robinson making way.

The Dolphins will welcome back Max Bryant for the clash with Wynnum-Manly. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Gold Coast are coming off a loss at home to Valleys in which they were rolled for 86 in the first innings, before restricting the visitors to 134 in reply.

And Kuhnemann is tipping tomorrow’s game to be another dominated by the ball.

“It was everything - the Dukes ball, overcast conditions, a fresh pitch and some poor batting from both teams,” he said of the Valleys game.

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“It was definitely hard work with the bat. I think we’re playing on the same pitch so it could potentially be a low-scoring one-day game.”