Bulletin’s mid-season report card for Gold Coast Dolphins’ first grade men

WITH the men’s Queensland Premier Cricket season now at the halfway mark, the Bulletin runs the rule over the Gold Coast Dolphins to deliver its mid-season report card.

WITH the men’s Queensland Premier Cricket season now at the halfway mark, the Bulletin runs the rule over the Gold Coast Dolphins to deliver its mid-season report card.

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OVERVIEW

Two-Day

Ladder position: 5th

Results: 3 wins, 3 losses

One-Day

Ladder position: 9th

Results: 1 win, 2 losses

Twenty20

Ladder position: 6th

Results: 3 wins, 1 loss

All-rounder Liam Hope-Shackley has been the star of Gold Coast’s season so far. Picture: Mike Batterham

OVERALL RATING: B+

THE HIGHLIGHT

After falling to Ipswich-Logan in their opening two-dayer in October, the Dolphins bounced back in the best way possible to down defending champions University of Queensland the following game.

The result, which featured starring roles from Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant and Hugo Burdon, was part of a LWLWLW sequence in Gold Coast’s six two-day outings.

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THE LOWLIGHT

Having accounted for UQ, the Dolphins entered their next game at home to Sunshine Coast full of confidence.

But another inconsistent batting display – they were bowled out for 117 in 36 overs – left them licking their wounds with a 138-run loss.

Dolphins young gun Hugo Burdon. Picture: Steve Holland

THE STAR

All-rounder Liam Hope-Shackley has been simply unstoppable, smashing 662 runs at an average of 66.2 to go with 20 wickets at 21.85.

While he sits third on the runscorers list, he has a competition-high four tons.

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THE BACKBONE

Holding the crucial no.4 spot and offering more-than-handy legspin, teenager Hugo Burdon has showed maturity beyond his years in his second season of first grade.

The Southport School product has 380 runs at 38 – including four half-centuries – and 14 wickets at 21.79.