Legspinner Tyler Smith and batsman Canning Mason brought into Dolphins’ two-day side to face Ipswich-Logan
THE Gold Coast Dolphins have made two changes to their side - including handing out a two-day first grade debut - ahead of tomorrow’s first long-form fixture against Ipswich-Logan.
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LEGSPINNER Tyler Smith will make his first grade debut in the two-day format tomorrow as Gold Coast search for a winning formula in the continued absence of their Queensland stars.
Smith, the twin brother of teammate Jackson Smith, and top-order batsman Canning Mason are the new faces in a Dolphins side that will launch its two-day campaign at home to Ipswich-Logan tomorrow and Saturday week.
With regular offspinner Ben Davis unavailable, 26-year-old Smith has been called up from second grade after taking 0-15, 0-41 and 1-29 in three one-day appearances this season.
He played a lone one-day fixture in first grade for the Dolphins in 2013-14 before a Twenty20 outing last season, but is yet to feature for the top side in the longest form.
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“With Ben Davis unavailable, it’s an opportunity to play another spinner at Bill Pippen Oval, which has been receptive to spinners so far this season,” coach Chris Swan said.
Smith took 33 wickets at 25.09 in second grade last season, highlighted by a haul of 4-51 against South Brisbane.
Mason, who posted 88 in a losing effort against Valleys last weekend, has been brought into first grade for short-form specialist Jack Cooper.
The 27-year-old played five first grade games in 2012-13 but was forced to wait until 2017-18 for another shot, scoring 218 runs in 12 innings at an average of 18.17.
In 23 second-grade knocks last season, he posted 465 runs at an average of 24.47.
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With captain Matt Kuhnemann, Max Bryant, Xavier Bartlett and Michael Neser away on Bulls one-day duties, Mason will likely partner acting skipper Jack Hargreaves at the top of the order.
The Dolphins’ one-day title hopes were extinguished last weekend when they slumped to a 152-run loss to Valleys in their third and final 50-over outing.
They had bounced back from an opening-round loss to Wynnum Manly to down Redlands in Round 2, but defeat against the Diehards left them outside the top eight spots needed for a quarterfinal appearance.
Play against Ipswich-Logan begins at 10am tomorrow at Bill Pippen Oval.
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GOLD COAST DOLPHINS XI
Jack Hargreaves (c)
Canning Mason
Lewin Maladay (wk)
Hugo Burdon
Max Houlahan
Scott Sanderson
Liam Hope-Shackley
Josh Kann
Tyler Smith
Nathan Lyons
Jackson Smith
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