The inaugural KFC T20 Max Competition kicked off with a bang last night, with a host of BBL, state and national cricketers putting on a show.
The two-time defending T20 champions Gold Coast Dolphins proved too good, mostly on the back of a blistering innings from Brisbane Heat opener Max Bryant (72 runs off 33 balls).
However it wasn’t all one-way traffic for the reigning champions, who had to weather an almost game-changing spell from one of the BBL’s most prolific wicket takers in Valley’s Cameron Boyce (4/14).
Earlier in the evening, the Gold Coast Dolphins won the bat flip and sent Valley into bat at Ian Healy Oval.
Brisbane Heat/QLD Bulls captain Usman Khawaja and Andrew Gode took to the crease in front of an appreciative crowd, with both players having to mix aggressive intent and the need to assess the early season conditions.
Khawaja continued his amazing run of form of late for Australia to open the 2022-23 season with 55 off 51 balls, along with Gode’s 44 off 37 balls, taking the opening stand to 0-105.
But through exceptionally tight bowling and team fielding, the Dolphins showed why they are two-time defending T20 champions and kept Valley to 6-157 off their 20 overs.
With the ball it was Jackson Smith claiming the best figures of 3-30 for the Dolphins (including a tight power surge over), along with the interstate recruit of Iain Carlisle (0-20 off 4 overs) proving to be incredibly miserly in the Tasmanian Tigers quick's debut for the club.
In reply Gold Coast got off to a flyer through Bryant, as the Dolphins brought up their 50 inside the 4-over powerplay and looked in control of the chase.
Bryant’s scintillating innings showed off an array of 360-degree hitting (11x 4s and 2 x 6s), with his usual lofted drives and pull shots, accompanied by laps, ramps and reverse sweeps to all parts of Ian Healy Oval.
At the other end Bryant was well supported by youngster Judd Markham (33 off 29 balls), who was part of Queensland’s Under-19 National Championship winning side last season.
But with the score at 0-111 in the tenth over and the match very much in the grasp of Gold Coast, Valley legspinner Cameron Boyce showed his class and almost singlehandedly turned the contest with the wickets of Bryant, Markham, Hugo Burdon and Xavier Bartlett in the space of a couple of overs.
Having lost 4-8 and then finding themselves at 5-124 after further tight Valley bowling, Gold Coast were desperate for a settling partnership.
From here the level heads of Melbourne Stars allrounder Clint Hinchliffe (15* off 19 balls) and skipper Matt Kuhnemann (12* off 9 balls) got the Dolphins over the line 6-down with 7 balls to spare, starting the 2022-23 KFC T20 Max in winning fashion as they chase a three-peat of T20 titles.
Cricket fans will be treated to another KFC T20 Max blockbuster fixture tonight at Ian Healy Oval (6.30pm), with Northern Suburbs playing host to Redlands, with both sides boasting strong squads filled with elite cricketers.
The hosting Vikings will be led by former Australian Test player Joe Burns, along with Nathan McSweeney (SA Redbacks) and wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen (SA Redbacks and Adelaide Strikers) from interstate.
Whilst the Redlands Tigers will be led by current Australian Test and ODI star Marnus Labuschagne, including QLD Bulls and Brisbane Heat teammates Sam Heazlett and James Bazley as well as interstate firepower in Ben Manenti (Tasmania and Sydney Sixers), Josh Lalor (Melbourne Renegades) and Spencer Johnson (South Australia)
For those unable to make it out to Ian Healy Oval for tonight's fixture, the KFC T20 Max clash can be viewed on Kayo Freebies as well.
The rest of the opening round is:
Saturday, August 20
9.30am:
Wynnum-Manly v Northern Suburbs, Bill Albury Oval
University of QLD v Western Suburbs, Alan Pettigrew Oval
Sunshine Coast v South Brisbane, Trevor Hohns Field
12pm: Redlands v Toombul, Peter Burge Oval
1.30pm:
Gold Coast v Ipswich, Bill Pippen Oval
Wynnum-Manly v Sunshine Coast, Bill Albury Oval
Northern Suburbs v University of QLD, Alan Pettigrew Oval
Sandgate-Redcliffe v Valley, Trevor Hohns Field
6.30pm: Toombul v Western Suburbs, Ian Healy Oval
Sunday, August 21
9.30am:
South Brisbane v Valley, Norman Gray Oval
Western Suburbs v Sandgate-Redcliffe, Graceville #1
Ipswich v Redlands, Baxter Oval
Gold Coast v Toombul, Ivor Marsden #1
1.30pm:
Sunshine Coast v Northern Suburbs, Kerry Emery Oval
University of QLD v Wynnum-Manly, Ken Mackay Oval
South Brisbane v Sandgate-Redcliffe, Norman Gray Oval
Western Suburbs v Valley, Graceville #1
Ipswich v Toombul, Baxter Oval
Redlands v Gold Coast, Ivor Marsden #1
Monday, August 22
6.30pm: University of QLD v South Brisbane, Ian Healy Oval
Tuesday, August 23
6.30pm: Sandgate-Redcliffe v Sunshine Coast, Ian Healy Oval
For more information on fixtures, results and highlights of the KFC T20 Max Competition and QLD Premier Cricket, follow any of these platforms:
QLD Premier Cricket Match Centre