Meg Austin was delighted that Warwickshire Bears Women could make it three wins in a row in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, as they triumphed in a high-scoring thriller against Lancashire.
The Bears, who returned to One Day action after a three-week break, picked up where they off in May by posting 314 with the bat before holding on to win by 20 runs against the Red Rose at Portland Road.
Austin found form in the Vitality Blast, scoring 209 runs across six games to sit third in the leading run-scoring charts in that format, and carried that into the return of 50-over cricket, striking 116 from 137 balls as Warwickshire set Lancashire a mammoth 315 for victory.
The 21-year-old was part of a match-defining 166-run partnership for the third wicket, with fellow Bear Katie George (127 off 97 balls) producing an outstanding century of her own.
“I think me and KG [Katie George] did a good job,” she said. “It was obviously a good pitch so we had to cash in on that, bat for as long as we could so that people could come in at the back end and play their shots.
“We lost the wicket early, so it was about settling the team. The aim was to come in and play my game but also try not to be too aggressive and take too many risks.
“Katie and I had really clear communication throughout. We had our clear plans.”
Lancashire opener Eve Jones got the visitors’ reply off to the perfect start, scoring 113 off 115 balls, but left-arm spin proved to be key for the Bears.
Phoebe Brett took three for 42 and Charis Pavely four for 54, as the duo struck at crucial times to bowl out Lancs for 294, 20 short of their target.
Warwickshire consolidated fourth place in the Metro Bank One Day Cup table with victory, moving level on points with Surrey in third and just five points behind Hampshire in second place.
“We have come back into the 50 over format and tried to remember what we had been doing so well before the T20 started,” Austin added.
“We are in a really good position in the table, and we didn’t want to shy away from that. We backed our skills.”
Bears Women are next in Metro Bank One Day Cup action on Wednesday 17 June against Somerset.