Warwickshire Women Head Coach Ali Maiden is hoping his side can build on the positive signs on display in the opening day defeat against Surrey ahead of the Metro Bank One Day Cup clash with Hampshire on Wednesday 15 April.
The Bears slipped to a 52-run defeat against Surrey on the opening day after the Three Feathers set an imposing target of 389 from their 50 overs.
Despite impressive displays from Amu Surenkumar (59) and Em Arlott (90), the Bears fell 52 runs short and therefore started the season with defeat, and Maiden is now hoping his side can shake off the ring rust and put in a good performance against last year’s One Day Cup winners.
“It felt a little bit like we’d had three fairly genuine warm-up games, where lots of people batted, everybody got what they needed individually, but then against Surrey, especially from a bowling point of view, you’re coming up against Dunkley, Wyatt-Hodge, ADR, some top players, international players, and that felt like a big jump.
“To me, we were a little bit ring rusty in terms of our skills, especially with the ball. So we’ve chatted about that and that’s understandable, but we need to put that right. From a batting point of view, there was really lots of positives. I thought we did really well, applied ourselves, and got a good score in chasing that, but we’d given away too many with the ball.
“We fielded pretty well, lots of good stuff that we’ve done through the winter that stood up in that pressurised environment, so it was good. I think lots of positives, but a bit ring rusty I’d say, so hopefully next game we’ll be a bit sharper.”
With Surenkumar and Arlott both making scores and a number of others getting off to good starts without converting, Maiden was pleased to see the off-season work put into practice, but has now challenged his top order to lay down a marker and lead the Bears to a big total.
“We’ve often said about someone from the top six getting a big score to really cement the innings and hold the innings together.
“Amu got 50, played brilliantly. We’d like to see her go on. Katie [George] played wonderfully as well, 40-odd. Again, we want to see that develop, which they know.
“Then it was really nice to see Em as well go and get 90. She played really well later on at the back end. So that was really good for us and a good partnership with [Issy] Wongy. So there was loads of good stuff. Like I said, ultimately, it’s that sharpening up of those little skills. Holding length with the ball at the stumps a little bit more, and then with the bat, one of the top five has to go on and get big scores to give us a chance.”
Led by Naomi Dattani, Hampshire got over the line in a thrilling victory over Essex at Utilita Bowl on Saturday as the Rose and Crown chased down 266 with just two balls to spare.
Linsey Smith and skipper Dattani starred with the ball, taking two wickets each, whilst Amanda-Jade Wellington picked up a wicket on her return to the club.
Ella McCaughan then picked up where she left off in 2025, making 90 in her first professional match since her Vitality Blast century against the same opposition last June.
Abi Norgrove made a career-best 85 as she and McCaughan put on 147 for the second wicket, with fireworks from Freya Kemp (46 off 43) and an unbeaten 25 off 18 from Dattani saw Hampshire over the line.