Gold Coast Dolphins teen Josh Kann takes seven wickets including Test opener Joe Burns

Boom all-rounder Josh Kann’s breakout Queensland Premier Cricket season has hit a new high after singlehandedly punishing a Norths team featuring Australian Test opener Joe Burns.

BOOM all-rounder Josh Kann’s breakout Queensland Premier Cricket season has hit a new high after singlehandedly punishing a Norths team featuring Australian Test opener Joe Burns.

Having opted to bat first against the ladder leaders on a tricky Ian Healy Oval surface, Gold Coast at one stage lost 4-0 to be in deep trouble at 5-59.

The Dolphins fought back through Liam Hope-Shackley (75 off 83) and Kann (60 off 57) to reach a competitive total of 265, although it was not enough to please skipper Max Houlahan at the change of innings.

“We knew that anything over 250 is always competitive but it was pretty disappointing to only bat for two and a bit sessions,” he said.

Max Houlahan.

“We have tried to pride ourselves on batting the whole day … we were pretty disappointed as a batting group.

“But we knew we were in the game, we just had to get a couple of early ones.”

That’s where Kann took his Saturday afternoon to a whole new level.

POM’S 9-44 PERFECT FAREWELL

The 19-year-old got the ball rolling by having Burns – who made 180 against Sri Lanka earlier this month – caught by Max Bryant at third slip for six.

Joe Burns celebrates a century against Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval. Picture: Phil Hillyard

By the end of 20 overs at stumps, Kann had bowled unchanged for figures of 7-32 to have Norths reeling at 7-68 in another show of promise by the young Dolphins.

“It was probably the best spell of bowling I’ve seen in first grade,” Houlahan said.

BURLEIGH STAR BANNED FOR BALL TAMPERING

“He was swinging it just enough and a big thing for our quicks has been making the batsmen play. We probably haven’t made batsmen play enough throughout the season, they have been able to leave a lot of balls and get themselves in.

Josh Kann in action for Queensland at the 2018 National Under-19 Cricket Championships in Adelaide. Picture: Brody Grogan/Cricket Australia

“He made them play.

“Getting Burns out cheaply was a pretty good feeling … we thought we could have been chasing a bit of leather but once we got him, it was all guns blazing.”

Kann hailed the day as “awesome” and laughed he had already started persuading Houlahan into helping his chances of clinching a 10-wicket haul when play resumes next Saturday.

The Australian under-19 representative revealed he had only taken his maiden five-for last month: 5-109 against Toombul.