BEARS Women’s coach Ali Maiden says the Warwickshire squad are growing into their bid to claim a top four Vitality Blast place this season.
Sunday’s 13-run win over Hampshire Hawks at Edgbaston meant Bears won back-to-back games for the first time in the competition – and look to be hitting their best form at the right time.
With that victory, the Bears opened up a seven-point gap between themselves and fourth-placed Hawks, with two matches to go against Essex and The Blaze before a 14-day break.
Bears face Essex at Edgbaston on Wednesday with Maiden having high hopes for the remainder of the campaign.
He told the Bears’ official website: “We were really good with the bat on Sunday. Starting from the powerplay, Meg Austin and Davina Perrin took the game to Hampshire and ran really well.
“That’s one of the things we’ve worked hard on is our running between the wickets, but then on the flipside, stopping other teams running well.
“We were so good in the field. A highlight for me was the work of Davina and Charis Pavely at deep mid-wicket and long-on.
“Hannah Baker as well, all the boundary fielders were excellent in helping us turn the screw.
“The team cohesiveness from the Bears has never looked better, with a host of players contributing with both bat and ball.”
Austin scored her maiden Bears half-century on Sunday and became the fifth different player in seven games to do so.
Millie Taylor is the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition with 10 wickets, and skipper Georgia Davis is third with nine.
With the all-round talents of Pavely and Issy Wong, and the destructive power of Laura Harris, striking at 215.15, the highest in the Blast, the Bears have found their groove.
Maiden added: “We’ve got the personnel right in those positions, and the roles have become clear, and it helps build momentum.
“It takes time, it doesn’t happen overnight. There’s careful reviewing of games and the roles people play, and then it gradually falls into place.
“I’m enjoying watching the team grow and become self-sufficient.”
“Tournament cricket is about building momentum. This is the first time we’ve won back-to-back games, and what we want to do is build that momentum.
“Teams that win these competitions take momentum and use it when entering finals.”
The Bears have got an opportunity against Essex, one of two teams that have got the better of them in the Vitality Blast this season.
Warwickshire were not at their best in the field in Chelmsford, which was only compounded by a rain delay, which pushed their required total to 159 from 14 overs.
Maiden added: “Essex was an example of where we didn’t put in a Bears performance.
“We stood off the game a bit, and at times didn’t stick together as a team and a unit when it was going against us.
Squad unchanged following back-to-back 𝗪𝘀 🙌
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— Bears 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) June 17, 2025
“What we did well was that we came back with the bat in that game and played aggressively.
“This game is an opportunity to put in a better performance against Essex, because we are certainly good enough to beat them.
“I’m hopeful we can play like we have in the last two matches because we’ve been sensational.”
