Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Rachel Slater in action against The Blaze on Saturday, when she dismissed England opener Tammy Beaumont in the first over of the visitors’ chase of 281.
By Rachel Slater
We know that when we play good cricket for long enough, we can beat any team in Tier 1.
That was where we’d come unstuck in our opening two games against Somerset and Surrey. But it all came together on Saturday against The Blaze. To win in such convincing fashion was really pleasing.
It had been a bit of a tough week on the road, because we just hadn’t played good enough cricket for long enough.
We had played some really good cricket this year, but also played some bad stuff at times, to be fair. We know in Tier 1, we’re not going to get away with that.
There’s still a lot to work on moving forwards, and there were probably a few nerves in the first two games with us jumping up to Tier 1. But it was nice to come home to Headingley for our first home game of the summer, put a win on the board and get ourselves going against one of the top teams in the country.
I thought Loz and JJ and then Sterre at the end – all three of them passing 50 – really took the game on against The Blaze, and it was key that we batted the full 50 overs, where we hadn’t done in the last couple of games. That was excellent.
We also had to clean up with the fielding. Headingley’s obviously a tough ground to be a bowler at, so you have to be on your mark from ball one. We can be better still, but we were a lot better than the first two games.
On a personal note, the most pleasing thing so far this season has been taking early wickets in all three matches. As a new-ball swing bowler, that’s my job.
I didn’t bowl as well as I’d have liked against The Blaze. I was a bit messy. But my job in that powerplay is to strike early, which I did by trapping Tammy Beaumont lbw. I’m glad that I can contribute doing that.
I would like to be taking more wickets like every bowler would. I’m always trying to be better, and if I can take two or three early and a couple at the back end, happy days.
Jess Jonassen been class. She’s everything you’d want as an overseas player.
She’s got right involved around the group, is very easy to chat to and is someone you want to learn from. On Saturday, she showed why she has the reputation that she does in world cricket.
I’m sure she will win us a lot of games.
Lancashire versus Yorkshire on Saturday will be great. In the past, it’s been Diamonds against Thunder. So to have a proper Yorkshire and Lancashire game is really exciting.
It’s nice we can take this momentum over to their place on Saturday and hopefully get another win on the board.