Gold Coast Dolphins captain Max Houlahan praises bowlers after incredible tie with Valleys

GOLD Coast captain Max Houlahan has described the Dolphins’ bowling performance in Saturday’s incredible Queensland Premier Cricket tie with Valleys as one of the best in recent memory.

GOLD Coast captain Max Houlahan has described the Dolphins’ bowling performance in Saturday’s incredible Queensland Premier Cricket tie with Valleys as one of the club’s best in recent memory.

Defending 229 in their opening two-day fixture at Peter Easton Oval, the Dolphins looked in deep trouble when the hosts took their overnight score of 2-89 to 6-220.

But the wicket of Adam Lockhart-Krause opened the door for the visitors, who grabbed a share of the points when Liam Hope-Shackley (5-52) found the edge of Josh Neill to claim the final scalp with the scores locked on 229.

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Gold Coast Dolphins fast bowler Nathan Lyons. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“It was pretty incredible, I have never played in a tie,” Houlahan, who made his first grade debut for the club in 2014-15, said.

“Even before that, they were 4-181 so it was a good fightback. We sort of starved them a bit and it worked, they got a bit frustrated.

“That’s one of the best bowling performances by a Dolphins team I’ve seen since I’ve been playing. I couldn’t fault the bowlers.”

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The Dolphins’ Josh Kann. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Despite losing Queensland batsman Lachlan Pfeffer (14) cheaply, the Diehards were cruising with six wickets to spare when former Dolphin Nick Stevens (43) and Owen Lynch (11) were at the crease.

But with Hope-Shackley receiving valuable support from Nathan Lyons and Josh Kann (both 2-57), the Dolphins clawed their way back.

“It was a massive effort with the batting they have. We knew that once we got Stevo and Pfeffer we had a chance and if you get a bit of momentum up it’s pretty hard to stop.

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Liam Hope-Shackley. Picture: Mike Batterham

“It’s a good kickstart for the two-day season, we will take a lot of confidence out of that. It showed fight and being captain, that’s really pleasing.”

The Dolphins host University of Queensland in their second two-dayer beginning on Saturday.

The club’s third grade side (5-152) hung on for a draw against Valleys (6-263 declared) thanks to a knock of 67 from Jared Heuhaus, while the second grade outfit lost to the Diehards despite half-centuries from Scott Sanderson (64) and Howard Biddle (51).