Mary Taylor contributed with both bat and ball as Warwickshire Women returned to winning ways against Lancashire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
The Bears, in need of a win after a slipping to defeat last time out against Durham, responded in style, chasing down a testing total at Old Trafford to climb up to fourth in the table after seven games.
Taylor, who has been ever-present in the Bears’ side this season, impressed to take three for 47 in nine overs with the ball, an effort that helped restrict Lancashire to 226 for nine from 42 overs after the game was reduced due to rain.
The 21-year-old then smashed an unbeaten 42 from just 27 balls in a match-winning 75-run partnership with Nat Wraith (34 not out) to see the Bears over the line with nine balls to spare.
“It was a great feeling to contribute to the team with bat and ball,” she said.
“Me and Nat spoke a bit about the run rate, but we just said not to panic and that we’d be able to take it deep and score boundaries when we needed to.
“It didn’t look like we had plenty of overs left when we came together, but we knew we had time, so I just said to take it deep and see what we could do towards the back end.”
Taylor, who joined Warwickshire from Hampshire at the end of last year, says she is enjoying being a Bear, with the team going from strength-to-strength.
“It’s a great environment,” she added. “I’ve been able to play that all-rounder role which I think is really good for me, and for my development.
“As a team, we come together really well. We always want to win and there’s that competitiveness that everyone has, that works so well together.
“I’m really happy with this team and where we’re going.”
Warwickshire Women are back in action on Saturday 16 May, as they look to make it back-to-back wins on the road against Yorkshire.