Bulletin runs the rule over the Gold Coast Dolphins after promising Qld Premier Cricket season

WITH the Gold Coast Dolphins rising from the Queensland Premier Cricket doldrums to narrowly miss the two-day finals, the Bulletin runs the rule over the squad to delivers its 2018-19 player ratings.

Brent O’Neill

2 min read

March 22, 2019 - 6:38PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

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WITH the Gold Coast Dolphins rising from the Queensland Premier Cricket doldrums to narrowly miss the two-day finals, the Bulletin runs the rule over the squad to delivers its 2018-19 player ratings.

Josh Kann

Matches: 13

Runs: 227 at 28.38

Highest score: 60

Wickets: 25 at 22.84

Best bowling: 7-87

Rating: A

On the fringe of the first grade side at the start of the season, Kann’s meteoric rise included Australian under-19 selection and a Queensland second XI debut.

BULLETIN’S 2018-19 DOLPHINS REPORT CARD

Lewin Maladay

Matches: 20

Runs: 788 at 35.82

Highest score: 86

Catches/stumpings: 10/1

Rating: A-

The former Australian under-19 representative underlined his quality with eight half-centuries in 22 innings, but an improved conversion rate next season could carry the Dolphins to the finals.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Josh Kann in action for Queensland under-19s. Picture: Brody Grogan/Cricket Australia

Liam Hope-Shackley

Matches: 20

Runs: 543 at 30.17

Highest score: 75

Wickets: 23 at 31.70

Best bowling: 5-52

Rating: B+

The fast-bowling all-rounder was the backbone of the Dolphins’ rise, taking vital wickets and scoring important runs.

DOLPHINS’ WOMEN DOMINATE BEFORE WASHOUT

Matt Kuhnemann

Matches: 17

Runs: 198 runs at 16.50

Highest score: 39

Wickets: 31 at 28.77

Best bowling: 5-97

Rating: B+

Quality finger spinners are hard to come by in Queensland Premier Cricket but the Dolphins may have found one.

Liam Hope-Shackley. Picture: Richard Gosling

Hugo Burdon

Matches: 14

Runs: 354 at 25.29

Highest score: 80

Rating: B+

While school cricket limited his output, a first-grade debut at the age of 16 showed he is a star of the future.

HURRICANES HOPPING ON FRONT FOOT

Max Houlahan

Matches: 21

Runs: 531 at 26.55

Highest score: 83 not out

Rating: B

Thrown into the captaincy hot seat at the age of 21, Houlahan showed signs of promise without dominating.

Teenage batsman Hugo Burdon. Picture: Richard Gosling

Jack Hargreaves

Matches: 18

Runs: 479 at 25.21

Highest score: 92

Rating: B

A breakthrough campaign for the versatile batsman after a stop-start first grade career.

CATS KEEN TO RIGHT FINALS WRONGS

Kevin Chapman

Matches: 11

Runs: 372 at 31

Highest score: 96

Rating: B

By his own admission, the veteran opening batsman was largely hit or miss in his first season back at the club.

Batsman Jack Hargreaves.

Max Bryant

Matches: 11

Runs: 339 at 28.25

Highest score: 156

Wickets: 13 at 22.46

Best bowling: 3-44

Rating: B

A sporadic contributor amid representative commitments, Bryant did not have the impact he would have liked with the bat – aside from a dazzling 156 against Wests – but chipped in with the ball.

BURLEIGH READY TO FIGHT FOR SONNY

Mitch Daly

Matches: 15

Runs: 216 at 24

Highest score: 50 not out

Catches/stumpings: 18/3

Rating: B

More than held his own after taking the gloves from an injured Lewin Maladay midway through the season.

Max Bryant hit the Dolphins’ only two-day ton. Picture: Adam Head

Ben Davis

Matches: 14

Wickets: 16 at 27.88

Best bowling: 3-71

Rating: B

Another of the pace brigade who did his job but will be hoping it is the platform for bigger and better things in 2019-20.

FINALS-BOUND TIGERS ‘CAN BEAT ANYONE’

Jackson Smith

Matches: 17

Wickets: 19 at 33.32

Best bowling: 4-36

Rating: B-

The right-arm paceman had struggled for consistency throughout the campaign but match figures of 7-67 in the last round against Redlands could prove a turning point.