The Bulletin looks at five things we learned from another weekend of Gold Coast cricket

The Bulletin looks at five things we learned from another weekend of Gold Coast cricket.

The Bulletin looks at five things we learned from another weekend of Gold Coast cricket.

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FINS NO ONE-WOMAN SHOW

Heavily reliant on state representative Georgia Redmayne during last season’s successful Katherine Raymont Shield campaign, the Gold Coast Dolphins are learning to win without their big names - underlined by Tara Wheeler’s unbeaten 95 in Sunday’s win over University of Queensland.

Chelsea Gan bats for the Gold Coast Dolphins’ women in Sunday’s win over UQ. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

TIGERS STILL HAVE WORK TO DO

Two-day semi-finalists last season and tipped by many to challenge for the 2019-20 crown, Southport Labrador received a Kookaburra Cup reality check on Saturday as Mudgeeraba Nerang inflicted a 57-run defeat at Nerang RSL Oval.

Southport Labrador's Devon Hamley. Picture: Steve Holland

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED - OCTOBER 12-13

DOLPHINS’ BEST AS GOOD AS ANY

Faced with the monumental task of beating defending Queensland Premier Cricket champions University of Queensland on their home turf, the Dolphins were superb with both bat and ball to register a three-wicket win on Saturday.

Consistency is now key in their finals push.

Dolphins captain Matt Kuhnemann played a key role in Saturday’s triumph over UQ. Picture: Steve Holland

HELENSVALE LOOMING AS FINALS DARK HORSE

It’s only Round 2 but Helensvale Pacific Pines are already showing signs of Kookaburra Cup improvement.

Also-rans last season, the Hawks have backed up decent pre-season form with back-to-back wins, including Saturday’s impressive six-wicket triumph over Palm Beach Currumbin.

Helensvale Pacific Pines’ Jack Baird. Picture: Richard Gosling

THE BIG Q&A - GEORGIA REDMAYNE

BARTLETT A LONG-TERM BULL

Long earmarked as a Queensland star of the future, Dolphins quick Xavier Bartlett announced his arrival as a Sheffield Shield force on Saturday.

Having gone wicketless in the first innings, the 20-year-old debutant took his first Shield scalp en route to figures of 3-33 against South Australia.

Xavier Bartlett took 3-33 in the second innings of Queensland’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images