Bears batter Sam Hain is happy with his form at the moment but admits the "the challenge is to keep it going as long as possible."
Hain has long been the linchpin at the heart of the Bears’ top-order but never has his batting been more productive or more pleasing on the eye than in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old’s unbeaten 72 in the Vitality Blast defeat to Derbyshire Falcons on Sunday followed his maiden Blast ton – 112 not out – at Notts Outlaws last Friday. His last three red-ball games, meanwhile, have brought scores of 202 not out, 109 not out and 130.
Hain is in prime form as the Bears prepare for two huge Blast derbies, away to Northants Steelbacks tomorrow then the biggest one of all, against Worcestershire Rapids, at Edgbaston on Friday.
“I feel that I am in a good place at the minute,” he said. “But I know how fickle the game is and how quickly it can turn so I will just take it one game at the time. The challenge is to keep it going as long as possible. It is great that at Edgbaston it is always a good deck and Gary Barwell and his team always produces nice wickets so that suits my style of play.
“At this time of the season it is a little bit tough for players who are playing T20 and four-day cricket. It is tough to adjust, but it’s something that we all have to adjust to and I think I have got a good idea of how I want to play in both formats. It’s not always going to come off but if I keep trying to do the right things, and hopefully it comes off often enough.”
The Bears will visit the Steelbacks tomorrow still well-placed in the North Group despite defeat to the Falcons.
“We were probably 15 or 20 runs short on Sunday, we realise that,” Hain said. “We are not always going to get it right but we have just got to keep throwing punches and improve in the areas we need to and we will see the results.
“The style of cricket we are looking to play in T20 is not always going to come off but nights like Trent Bridge last Friday, when we got the highest score in T20 history, show what we are capable of and that we are doing a lot of things right.”
Hain did not field against the Falcons on Sunday after feeling some discomfort in his back while batting but hopes to be on the team sheet at Northampton tomorrow.
“It was more the running between the wickets that was troublesome,” he said. “I have had back issues – maybe I have got to look at the mattress I’m sleeping on at home or just stop slouching! Hopefully I’ll be okay.”
