Gold Coast Dolphins women to play Sandgate-Redcliffe in semi final after last-ball loss to Wests

A heartbreaking final-ball loss to Wests has set up a semi-final showdown with Sandgate-Redcliffe for the Gold Coast Dolphins’ Katherine Raymont Shield outfit.

A HEARTBREAKING final-ball loss to Wests has set up a semi-final showdown with Sandgate-Redcliffe for the Gold Coast Dolphins’ Katherine Raymont Shield outfit.

Defending 221 at Bill Pippen Oval today, the Dolphins appeared in the box seat with Wests needing 14 from the last over but some tail-end heroics from the Bulldogs delivered the three runs required off the final ball.

CLUB SEES POSITIVES DESPITE FINALS PAIN

The two-wicket defeat, which came despite a knock of 52 from Tara Wheeler and Sammy-Jo Johnson’s 2-21, ensured the Coast side would end the regular season in third place.

They will now take on Sandgate-Redcliffe, who fell from top spot with a shock loss to Ipswich-Logan, in a do-or-die encounter at Deagon next Sunday.

Gold Coast Dolphins all-rounder Tara Wheeler. Picture: Mike Batterham

“We had a lot of starts with the bat, 220 should have been more than enough. It was a really good game of cricket,” coach Garry Lovett said.

“We had to work really hard early on (with the bat). It probably wasn’t one of our better bowling and fielding performances.

COAST VETERAN WINDING BACK THE CLOCK

“But we still finished third and I’m going to back us in against Sandgate-Redcliffe. We will be at full strength next week.”

Belinda McDougall (34) and Georgia Redmayne (30) made starts with the bat, while Grace Parsons took 2-19 from six overs with her legspin.

Sandgate-Redcliffe could be boosted by the inclusion of Australian star Beth Mooney.