Worcestershire Rapids spinner, Flora Bertwistle, said her side’s struggle to convert batting starts into big scores, needs to be addressed if they are to change their fortunes in the Vitality T20 Blast.
Falling to a seven-wicket defeat at Uptonsteel County Ground on Sunday, no batter made a score of above 20 for the Rapids, as their modest total of 120 was chased down with relative ease.
Bertwistle, says the group have to back up their more positive bowling displays.
“It was another difficult day. Unfortunately, again, we just couldn’t get over the line. There were lots of starts with the batting, but just nobody went on to get big runs.
“I think we’ve been really good this season at being able to contain lots of sides, but they just had two good batters who managed to do what we didn’t do when batting.”
Still searching for their first win in the competition this season, Worcestershire have pushed their opponents close but struggled to stay in touch at crucial moments.
With another break from the competition on the horizon, Bertwistle, says the squad can’t look back and wonder what might have been.
“Everybody wants to be winning. We want to be winning as a squad. And everybody also looks at themselves as individuals and sees that “if I’d gone on and got another 20/30, runs, that could have been the difference”.
“So in truth, we’re a bit down as a squad. But again, the season’s moving quickly.
“We’ve got two more games coming up quickly and then we’ve got a week off, so this is a chance to sort of rebuild, get our skills back in-check and re-group.”
Despite the lack of wins next to the teams’ name, Bertwistle, has proved to be one of the most potent outlets for the Rapids this season, collecting six wickets in all the group stage matches so far.
She says her individual form has been reassuring, but the bowling group must come together if they are to turn positive performances into match winning performances.
“It feels good. I’m just trying to do a job for the team and make sure I stick to my plans and just bowling line and length, stick to my areas and then set the field accordingly
“It really helps when the bowling unit is fighting together to sort of contain the opposition as a unit. It’s coming out nicely, but again, if we do it as a unit, pressure is built as a team. We know it comes from lots of different bowlers.”
