Unbeaten ton from Rebecca Van Helvoirt not enough to save Gold Coast Dolphins against Sandgate

AN unbeaten ton from Rebecca Van Helvoirt has not been enough to save the Gold Coast Dolphins from a heavy loss to Sandgate-Redcliffe in their opening Katherine Raymont Shield fixture.

AN unbeaten century from Rebecca Van Helvoirt was not enough to save the Gold Coast Dolphins from a heavy loss to Sandgate-Redcliffe in their opening Katherine Raymont Shield fixture on Sunday.

Sent into the field, the new-look Dolphins outfit fell victim to an onslaught from the Gators’ Stephanie Baldwin (146 off 129) and Lilly Mills (87 off 81) as the hosts piled on 7-372 from their 50 overs.

NEW ERA FOR DOLPHINS’ WOMEN

Grace Parsons finished with 2-50 for the visitors, with Roxanne Thomson (1-18), Shareene Ferrier (1-21), Laura Parsons (1-28) and Tara Wheeler (1-42) also picking up scalps.

Chelsea Gan made 80 for the Dolphins’ women. Picture: Richard Gosling

In reply, the Dolphins stumbled to 2-10 before Van Helvoirt (102 not out from 152) and Chelsea Gan (80 off 131) combined for a 191-run third-wicket stand.

The Coasters, who finished 4-212, host Ipswich-Logan next Sunday.

SUCCESS A MIND GAME FOR DOLPHINS’ MEN

Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ men remain in the hunt for their first win of the Queensland Premier Cricket season heading into day two of their clash with Valleys this Saturday.

After two losses and a draw in their one-day fixtures, the Dolphins visited the Diehards’ Peter Easton Oval on Saturday, posting 229 from 65.3 overs.

In reply, the hosts reached 2-89 by stumps.

Liam Hope-Shackley starred with bat and ball for the Dolphins’ men. Picture: Mike Batterham

After slumping to 4-45, the Dolphins were dug out of the mire by Liam Hope-Shackley (55), wicketkeeper Lewin Maladay (52) and teenage star Hugo Burdon (27).

Hope-Shackley’s 81-ball knock included eight boundaries, while Maladay hit 10 in his 53-ball stay.

CLUB HEADED IN RIGHT DIRECTION, SAYS SKIPPER

Valleys’ Christopher Knight took 4-47 off 15 overs.

Hope-Shackley (2-31) then brought the Dolphins back into the contest with the wickets of openers Josh Dascombe and Jack Beath late in the day.