Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Claudie Cooper impressed with two wickets at Weetwood today.
Claudie Cooper believes Yorkshire approached their second-round Vitality County T20 Cup clash with Staffordshire aiming to play as they mean to go on.
Lauren Winfield-Hill and Rebecca Duckworth both hit half-centuries as the hosts, having won the toss, set their Tier 3 opponents 177 to win at Weetwood.
Olivia Thomas took 3-17 and Cooper and Beth Langston claimed two wickets apiece as Staffordshire were bowled out for 108.
Off-spinner Cooper acknowledged that Yorkshire were favourites coming into the contest but says the team were determined to lay down a marker as they set up a third-round clash with Tier 1 county Essex Eagles.
“We were not going to sit back and think about the different tiers, we knew that we had to give everything, especially knowing that we have a Tier 1 team next time,” Cooper.
“We wanted to play as we mean to go on.
“I think we’ve worked on our mindset all winter. We’ve said multiple times we’re seeing this as a development year but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to win.
“We’re just going to keep bringing it and see how far it can take us.”
Cooper has been in fine form, claiming three wickets in round one against Derbyshire on Monday and following it up with two against Staffordshire at Weetwood.
The former Surrey off-spinner is relishing the opportunity to take on Essex and believes Yorkshire will be heading into that match at Headingley next Saturday in positive mood.
“In some ways playing Essex will be harder, in some ways it will be easier. We know a lot of the girls and we can do proper scouting on them,” Cooper added.
“Playing at Headingley will really help us, getting a big crowd in to come and watch.
“We are a team that have just come together and a lot of the other teams have had a lot of years of being together. Just seeing where we are will be really good.
“Essex haven’t been doing particularly well so I feel we can capitalise on that and get ahead of them.”
