Gold Coast completed their third T20 victory in as many seasons, receiving the Tom Veivers Cup to make it a hat-trick of titles, clinching victory with two balls to spare.
Souths looked capable of defending their total of 6-151, taking regular wickets as the scoreboard pressure in the chase began to mount.
But Gold Coast recruit Caleb Ziebell, another regional star attracted to the inaugural KFC T20 Max competition, produced a nerveless all-round game as he and Dolphins regular Emmaus Benn delivered a strong Power Surge before holding their nerve in the final overs to finish 6-152.
Ziebell, named in the NSW Country Cricket Team of the Decade in 2021, was recruited to the Dolphins from Cudgen on the recommendation of Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls batsman Max Bryant, another to hail from the Tweed coastal town.
The strongly built Ziebell, who also plays rugby league for the Cudgen Hornets, finished 37 not out from 20 balls as the Dolphins took out the title.
Fittingly, Ziebell, who also took 1-13 from four excellent overs, was named the Andrew Symonds Medal winner as the Player of the Final.
The Dolphins brains trust of head coach Andrew Robinson and first grade coach Nick Buchanan were delighted at the all-round effort of the team, with the two ex-Heat players enjoying the performances of Bryant, allrounders Josh Kann (a century-maker in the semi-final) and Hugo Burdon, pace bowler Jackson Smith as well the captaincy of Matt Kuhnemann across the tournament.
South Brisbane was making their first Finals appearance in 21 years, with several members of their previous two-day premiership line-up at the venue.
The experienced coaching duo of Ken Healy and former Adelaide Strikers assistant coach Joe Dawes drew together a well-rounded T20 squad which timed their winning run almost to perfection.
They overcame Wests yesterday in the semi-final and looked set to take that momentum into the Final, which was staged before a good crowd with many fans staying on after the Brisbane Heat Family Day in the morning.
Souths made sure they had a target to bowl to, with the experienced Ben Cutting and impressive Sydney Premier Cricket recruit Dylan Hunter taking advantage of the fielding restrictions early to bolt to 41 from the first three overs before Cutting was dismissed.
Hunter, who plays for Gordon, hit 38 from 25 balls and the Souths total grew steadily through the likes of wicket-keeper Brendon Faber (34), captain Gurinder Sandhu (21no) and former AFL player turned cricketer Claye Beams (14 off 7 balls).
The Dolphins lost trumps Bryant and Kann early, as Gurinder Sandhu and brother Harmon struck early.
Burdon, who top scored with 41, and Queensland Under-19 player Judd Markham (34) got the chase in order before young Souths leg-spinner Connor McMillan picked up two wickets in an over to give the Magpies a chance of swooping on the title.
The KFC T20 Max tournament was played over three weekends, with all KFC Queensland Premier Clubs competing.
Norths lost just one game in the regular season round and finished with the leading runs-scorer in clean-hitting opener Josh Brown (447 runs at 63.86) and leading wicket-taker Scott Rodgie, the Sydney Northern Districts paceman who claimed 16 wickets at 11.63.
The Katherine Raymont Shield T20 competition will also be played under the KFC T20 Max banner, with the women’s competition taking place in its usual timeslot which complements the preparation for the Weber Women’s Big Bash League.
The Brisbane Heat have kept two spots on their playing roster for the coming KFC Big Bash League and will fill them in coming weeks after witnessing several impressive performances from home-grown and interstate talent.