Assistant coach Kyle Coetzer is hoping the best is yet to come from the Northern Diamonds this season.
The Diamonds have won seven of their 10 games in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, which resumes on Monday following a six-week break for the Hundred.
They sit second in the table, and with four games remaining in the race for a top-four finish and a semi-final spot are closing in on qualification.
Captain Hollie Armitage and co are 13 points clear of fifth-placed Blaze with only 20 more points available to play for.
Despite their position of strength in the bid to secure a second 50-over title in three years, former Scotland men’s captain Coetzer said: “We’ve probably played a bit of mixed cricket, actually, but the good thing is that we’ve managed to get ourselves over the line in games.
“I don’t think we’ve necessarily played to our best yet, but we’re coming back together as a group and we’re desperate to finish the season on a high.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Katie Levick and Hollie Armitage are set to return to regional action this weekend after the Hundred.
“We’ve certainly got the quality around the group, and it’ll just be about pulling the group together again after being away for a while.”
Coetzer has been speaking ahead of Monday’s trip to Chelmsford to face Sunrisers (10.30am).
They are the team the Diamonds beat convincingly at York last month when fast bowler Beth Langston took a career best six wickets in her first game of the season following her knee injury nightmare.
It was the penultimate game before the break for the Hundred. The next game, against Blaze at Lindum, was abandoned with the Diamonds 188-8 after 26 overs.
“Having Langers back just before the break for the Hundred was a massive boost for us – not just because of the skill she brings but also because of the feel-good factor that it created.
“Cricket’s a funny one like that,” said Coetzer when asked to explain why he believes the Diamonds haven’t hit top form yet.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Beth Langston will spearhead the Diamonds’ bid for silverware.
“But the most important thing is that we managed to get over the line in a couple of close games.
“Various people have put their hands up at different times, which is key to a good side.
“It’s almost about peaking at the right time.
“I guess the back end of the season can almost be the hardest because your body has been under strain for a long while. But I’m confident in the determination and the discipline around the group. The girls are all very professional.
“It’s nice to get to this stage of the season and have something in front of us to really push for.”
Sunrisers are fourth in the table on 25 points having won five of their 10 games so far.
Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Opening batter Emma Marlow has enjoyed an encouraging summer at the top of the order, scoring 190 runs.
Captained by Grace Scrivens, who is their leading run-scorer with 334 runs, Australian overseas seamer Nicola Hancock is their leading wicket-taker with 14.
But she will not be available on Monday given she is currently playing for Australia A in a home series against India A.
A trio of Sunrisers players, Eva Gray, Cordelia Griffith and Sophie Munro, all return to regional duty having won the Hundred last Sunday with London Spirit, beating Coetzer’s Welsh Fire in the final at Lord’s. He was an assistant coach with the Cardiff-based team.
