Gold Coast’s T20 title defence over in Katherine Raymont Shield despite final-round win
The Gold Coast Dolphins’ Twenty20 pain has been compounded, with the women’s title defence coming to an end on the same day the club’s first grade men narrowly missed a semi final spot.
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A FINAL-round annihilation of Wynnum-Manly/Redlands has not been enough to keep Gold Coast’s Katherine Raymont Shield Twenty20 title defence alive.
Having collapsed to hand Valleys victory in Saturday’s crucial clash at Robina, the Dolphins’ women entered today’s battle with Wynnum-Manly/Redlands knowing anything but a win would leave them outside the top four.
They held up their end of the bargain with a 91-run thumping at Billy Albury Oval, before Valleys moved alongside them on 12 points with a 54-run triumph over Ipswich-Logan.
DOLPHINS’ FINALS HOPES ENDED IN LAST-BALL T20 THRILLER
It then came down to net run rate, with Valleys’ 0.42 bettering the Dolphins’ 0.26 to seal the all-important fourth semi final spot and book a showdown with minor premiers Wests at Allan Border Field next Saturday.
Fresh off a Women’s Big Bash League campaign with Perth, Georgia Redmayne (22) and Tara Wheeler (53) laid the platform for today’s win with a 63-run opening stand before Delissa Kimmince (46 not out) and Rebecca van Helvoirt (20 not out) applied the finishing touches to steer the Dolphins to 3-151.
‘SHE’S NEARING CAREER-BEST FORM’ - DOLPHINS WOMEN REPORT CARD
The visitors then routed Wynnum-Manly/Redlands for 60 inside 17 overs, with Wheeler (4-15) and van Helvoirt (2-2) doing the bulk of the damage.
Victory over Valleys a day earlier would have sealed Gold Coast’s semi final ticket but a lower-order capitulation handed the Diehards two points.
Replying to the visitors’ 7-104, the Dolphins appeared on track at 3-71 and 6-91 before losing their last four wickets for five runs to be all out for 96 with three balls to spare.
Wheeler again starred with the bat with a team-high 25, while Grace Parsons (2-19), Roxanne Thomson (2-27) and Kimmince (1-12) were successful with the ball.
‘HE’S BEEN SIMPLY UNSTOPPABLE’ - DOLPHINS MEN REPORT CARD
The T20 final will be played next Sunday at Allan Border Field at 10am, with Sandgate-Redcliffe and University of Queensland to meet in Saturday’s other semi final.
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