Warwickshire Women Head Coach Ali Maiden is hoping the Bears can build on last week’s dominant victory against Essex when they return to Metro Bank One Day Cup action against The Blaze on Wednesday 29 April.
The Bears travel to Trent Bridge having recorded their first victory of the season last time out against Essex, where they produced an emphatic display across all three disciplines to win by five wickets at Chelmsford.
Maiden’s team will take to the field in Nottingham in confident mood, as they look to continue climbing the Metro Bank One Day Cup table with back-to-back wins.
“We’re going there off the back of a really good win against Essex, so we’re in confident mood,” he said.
“The Blaze game is always one we’re keen to win with it being against our most local rival, and I think we’re full of confidence going into it.”
The Bears have shown positive signs in all three of their outings to date, with a high-scoring loss in the season-opening showdown with Surrey followed up by their fixture with Hampshire being rained off after Warwickshire had amassed 354-7 from their 50 overs.
Maiden was then delighted to see all aspects come together in last week’s trip to The County Ground, as his side chased a testing total with relative ease.
“When there is a smallish total, there are always nerves around, but to do it five down relatively calmly was to me, a really good sign,” he added.
“The more games you have like that where it’s a little nervy and a bit close, and you get over the line, the more it builds confidence.
“But there were so many good bits about the win. Alexa Stonehouse’s spell with the new ball probably went unrewarded, but she was outstanding. We fielded magnificently too. It’s the best we’ve fielded in a 50 over game since we’ve been a professional outfit.”
Maiden is set to name an unchanged squad for this week’s game and is hoping the Bears can produce a repeat performance as they take on a Blaze side that have recorded two wins from three so far this season.
“I asked the team for a full performance last week,” he added. “You’re always striving for that, but that’s what I asked for. It was the best we’ve ever fielded, the bowling performance was great and to finish the game off with the bat was fantastic.
“We were building momentum before that game, so hopefully following the win, we can now kick on.”