Gold Coast overcame a spirited Norths in the first semi-final today before Souths held out to win a n engrossing clash with Western Suburbs in the evening decider tonight.
A stirring 112 from 46 balls by big-hitting allrounder Josh Kann propelled the Dolphins to a healthy 6-202 against Norths.
Kann, who earned a BBL contract with the Hobart Hurricanes last summer through his pre-season efforts in the T20 Strike League Darwin, would have had other BBL clubs sit up and take notice tonight with his quality knock.
He clouted nine sixes and eight fours, with his innings boasting a strike-rate of 243.48, as the Gold Coast finished well.
The Vikings attack had its moments, with young Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat paceman Will Prestwidge bowling with pace and control on the way to 1-20 from four overs, while leg-spinning allrounder Nikhil Chaudhary (2-26 from three) and paceman Scott Rodgie (3-36 from four) were among the wickets.
Competition batting front-runner Josh Brown missed out for Norths, before Nathan McSweeney (42 from 30 balls) got the chase up and running.
But wickets fell regularly and even a sharp counter from Chaudhary, who hit 46 from 23, was not enough to bridge the gap, with the Vikings finishing at 9-150.
In-form quick Jackson Smith claimed 3-21 while Kann added 2-34 to his day-out, and NSW Country recruit Caleb Ziebell took 2-37.
Batting first, Souths were in early trouble at 3-29 with batting trumps Dylan Hunter and Ben Cutting back in the sheds.
Clever spinner Paddy Dooley claimed two of the three wickets to fall, on the way to 2-13 from four overs, but the early ascendency from Wests was pegged back thanks to interstate batsman Stirling McAvoy.
Originally from Innisfail, McAvoy plays in the NSW Premier Cricket competition with the Hawkesbury club, where he works alongside former Bulls and Brisbane Heat batsman Peter Forrest.
Despite former Sydney Thunder spinner Arjun Nair (3-18) proving tough to get away, McAvoy stepped up his scoring rate to score 81 from 48 balls.
It ensured Souths posted a competitive 7-154.
Wests chase threatened to break through on several occasions, but the loss of batting trumps Sam Truloff (24), Nair (24), and a tight team bowling and fielding display kept Souths in the game.
Experienced T20 player Steve Paulsen was 33 not out, but Wests were unable to chase their target, finishing 5-146.
The pace trio of Harry Sandhu (2-25), Ben Cutting (1-26) and Gurinder Sandhu (1-28) and leg-spinner James Rosewarne (1-28) all bowled tightly in their four over spells.