As the countdown begins to Saturday鈥檚 Finals Day at the County Ground, Northampton, Yorkshire Women captain Maddie Ward says her team-mates are fully focused on the task ahead after securing a perfect eight wins from eight matches in their North Group campaign.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a brilliant competition for us,鈥� says Ward. 鈥淓ight from eight is a big thing to achieve 鈥� it鈥檚 difficult at any level of cricket 鈥� so we鈥檝e loved it so far. Hopefully we can top it off at the weekend.鈥�
She adds: 鈥淲hen we got to six from six, we started to think there was no reason why we couldn鈥檛 go for all eight. We didn鈥檛 want to get complacent, so it was definitely a statement for us to finish unbeaten.鈥�
Ten counties have been competing in Vitality Blast Women League 2 in its first year as part of a revamped domestic women鈥檚 structure, aimed at fuelling the growth of professional women鈥檚 cricket, with four teams making it through to Finals Day. The new structure, with Professional and National Counties competing in three tiers of competition, has replaced the previous system of regional teams.
On Saturday, Yorkshire will first have to overcome Glamorgan Women if they are to secure a place in the evening final against either Middlesex or Leicestershire. But Ward believes the entire Yorkshire squad has been energised by the new competition.
鈥淲hen it was regional cricket, it didn鈥檛 really have that 鈥榁itality Blast鈥� feel to it, so I think it鈥檚 been fantastic this year. It鈥檚 been good to have the opportunity to play at bigger stadiums, especially for the young girls playing Tier 2 cricket.鈥�
Yorkshire racked up two away victories last week, against Worcestershire Rapids and Leicestershire Foxes 鈥� but Ward insists there is still plenty of room for improvement.
鈥淲e had a bit of a chat as a team, and we agreed we didn鈥檛 play our best cricket against Leicestershire,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e know we were a bit below par in certain aspects. But getting the win was great and shows how much talent we鈥檝e got. We鈥檝e still got a lot more in the tank.鈥�
And with match-winners like Georgie Boyce and Claudie Cooper in Yorkshire鈥檚 ranks, Ward knows her side is capable of success.
鈥淲e know form is on our side, but we鈥檙e definitely not taking anything for granted,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nything can happen on a Finals Day. We need to stay level as a group and get the job done.鈥�
Middlesex Women captain Saskia Horley is one of those determined to stop Yorkshire achieving 10 wins from 10 matches in the new-look competition.
Her side face Leicestershire Women in the opening semi-final, having lost just one of their eight matches in South Group.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been quite successful for us,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut we鈥檝e definitely been tested. The South Group has been very competitive.鈥�
She adds: 鈥淯nity is the big thing for me. At the start of the season, I said I wanted us to compete in every game 鈥� and we鈥檝e done that. But now it鈥檚 about trying to stay as level-headed as we can.
鈥淲e talk in the group about being in the 鈥榩urple zone鈥�, where we鈥檝e got the passion and desire to compete while as staying as cool, calm, and collected as we can. I want the girls to take full advantage of this opportunity and for us to show our best cricket.鈥�
Middlesex trio Issy Routledge, Finty Trussler, and Gayatri Gole have all caught the eye this year. But the depth of talent across the squad is what gives Horley most hope going into the weekend.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always confident in our ability,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e got full confidence we can take home the trophy.鈥�
Vitality Blast Women鈥檚 Finals Day for the fully professional top tier of women鈥檚 domestic cricket will take place this Sunday at the Kia Oval.
Lead photo credit Allan McKenzie @ SWPix