Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Campbell has been in excellent form with the bat in this season’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Ami Campbell has praised her Yorkshire team-mates for the way the squad has bounced back from recent disappointments in both 50-over and T20 cricket.
The White Rose county beat Gloucestershire by 150 runs at Bristol last Saturday to keep themselves on course for the semi-finals of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, a game in which left-hander Campbell scored an excellent 98 not out.
It ended a three-game losing streak, which started late last month with defeat to Middlesex in the Vitality Blast final at Northampton. Defeat followed against the same opponent in the One-Day Cup the following Saturday before a reverse against Glamorgan.
But victory over a Gloucestershire side also in contention for the semis got things back on track.
Left-handed batter Campbell has been speaking ahead of Monday’s trip to face high-flying Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road, starting at 10.30am.
“It’s never nice to lose,” she said. “We’re a very competitive team.
“But, with the stage we’re at as a group, you’ve got to learn from those losses.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Maddie Ward and Ami Campbell at the crease together in the ongoing Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Vice captain Ward, who is leading the side, has just signed a new extended contract with the county.
“The season, up to that stage, had been a little bit breezy for us. And, actually, it was good to go away and say, ‘How are we going to compete in Tier 1?’
“We have to build partnerships, we have to rotate the strike. We’ve just gone back to that in training.
“It’s been hard, and we’ve spoken a few home truths.
“Everyone’s held themselves accountable and trained really, really hard. I’m proud of the girls for digging in.”
This is Yorkshire’s penultimate group game, their eighth of nine fixtures.
They have won four and lost three to date, sat fourth in the table on 20 points. The top four teams secure a semi-final berth, and Yorkshire are level on points with fifth-placed Worcestershire. Campbell and co are ahead courtesy of a superior net run-rate.
There is no doubt Yorkshire hold the advantage.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Leg-spinning all-rounder Olivia Thomas contributed runs, wickets and a catch to Yorkshire’s win over Gloucestershire at Bristol on Saturday.
Although they face a Northamptonshire side who are second having won six of their seven matches, they travel to face second-bottom Kent at Canterbury on Sunday.
Worcestershire’s last two games are against third-placed Glamorgan, who have won six of their seven games, and unbeaten table-toppers Middlesex. They are already qualified for the September 6 semi-finals having won all seven games to date.
“It’s going to be one last big effort for us over the next few weeks,” said Campbell.
“It’s never easy with the travelling as well. Saturday was a long journey to Bristol, and we have an even bigger one coming up to Kent next weekend.
“It’s not usually the cricket which takes it out of you, it’s the travelling.
“We have to make sure we’re looking after ourselves around that.”
Campbell has been excellent in 50-over cricket this season.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Amelia Oliver’s opening 61 against Gloucestershire was a career best senior score.
She has scored 350 runs in the One-Day Cup in six innings, posting two half-centuries and a career best 165 not out. She is the second leading run-scorer in the competition behind Northamptonshire’s Michaela Kirk with 364.
Campbell, aged 34, has scored a total of 531 runs in both 50-over and T20 cricket.
During that aforementioned tricky patch for Yorkshire, Campbell was actually out hit wicket in the 50-over defeat to Glamorgan at Weetwood as she stepped on her stumps whilst pulling against leg-spin.
In many ways, it summed up recent frustrations.
But she added: “I try not to let that kind of stuff affect me.
“I’ve been playing 25 years and I’ve never had that happen to me before.
“Up to that point in the innings (14 off six balls), I felt really, really good. I knew it was one of those things.
Picture by Jack Thomas/Getty Images. Northamptonshire’s Michaela Kirk is the leading run-scorer in the Tier 2 Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
“I’m not letting things like that knock me this season.
“I know what I’m capable of, and I’ve shown it on a few occasions.”
Northamptonshire are captained by leg-spinner Anisha Patel and won their last match, at home to Sussex at Horton House CC on Sunday. They defended their 172 all out, with the visitors falling from 101-2 to 114 all out.
The Steelbacks have 29 points and are nine better off than Yorkshire and fifth-placed Worcestershire with 10 to play for. A win would seal the semi-final berth.
