Experience intertwined with Nottinghamshire pathway youth over the course of the women’s season, culminating in a third placed finish at Group 1 Finals Day.
The achievement was the product of three group stage wins over the three double-header matchdays, including a pair of victories against Cumbira and Derbyshire to progress out the group on net run rate, followed by a second victory over the East Midlands neighbours in the third-place play-off.
The result shows the progression of the squad, according to Head Coach Martyn Kiel, who is effusive in his praise for the Green and Golds’ efforts, and their desire to don the Nottinghamshire emblem.
“With the changes in the squad, and from where we were at the start of the year, to finish where we did was testament to the character and quality within the squad,” he said.
“There is still a real connection when people pull the county shirt on. The older players don’t get the opportunity to represent this team very often, so they want to make sure that they perform, and playing for Notts is still a big thing for them.
“It is also an opportunity for players who are not on senior contracts to push on. For the younger players, they play against the likes of Alex Hartley, Emma Lamb, Hollie Armitage and are exposed to that high level of cricket. On the whole, we achieved what we set out to, and that’s a good place to be.”
And, pleasingly, there were performances across the squad.
Lucy Higham, Sophie Munro and Amelia Kite scored their first fifties for the Outlaws - the latter with pressure on at Finals Day - while U15s Evee-Mae Hicklin and Sadie Hodgson impressed during their first season in the senior side.
The side was led by Higham, in her sixth season at Nottinghamshire. As a player to have progressed through a county pathway system, who now competes for Lightning and in The Hundred, she represents the perfect role model, according to Kiel.
“Lucy and I met up in February and when I offered her the captaincy there was no hesitation on her part,” he said.
“She is very passionate about playing for Notts, and this year she led from the front. She is very clear from what she expects from other players, and stood up when we needed it - as did a host of players.
“The one that stands out particularly was against Lancashire. When you look back at that game, they got out the blocks, and were 44-0 after five overs and eyeing up a big score.
“Evee-Mae and Sadie came into the fold, bowled their full allocation and we restricted them to 99. They controlled the game in that middle period, and that is a stand out performance. It was probably one of the only times in the tournament where Lancashire were held.”
The pair were joined as juniors in the ranks by Ella Porter, Maddie Ward, Rhiannon Knowling-Davies, Olivia Baker, Eleanor Owen, Annie Williams and Olivia Macey throughout the campaign.
It represents a conscious move on Kiel’s part to back the youth, following increased resourcing of the age group set up at Notts; 17-year-old Ward was afforded the opportunity to open the batting a handful of times, alongside Munro and Kite who themselves took their opportunities having been promoted up the order.
“There were some young girls who were not included in the squads and who would be disappointed, and that’s a positive thing in a sense. It shows that there is a desire to kick on for a place in a squad of 13, and in a final 11, and there is a real competition and depth of talent out there,” he said.
“For those who did play, their exposure to playing senior cricket is really useful. They know what is expected, they have played against some of the best players around and showed they can hold their own.
“It is about them using their experience from being in the women’s county game, to show the others what is expected in age group cricket, being role models and leaders in that squad.”
There will be a chance for them to do so when the U18 season begins in earnest in mid-summer. In any case, the uninterrupted flow of girls into the Notts side bodes well for the future and is evidence enough of the pathway’s health.
The likes of Teresa and Yvonne Graves, Munro and Higham, meanwhile, will progress into regional representation with the Lightning players amongst them set to take to the field at Trent Bridge for their Charlotte Edwards Cup clash against Southern Vipers.
Be More Outlaw: The 2022 Vitality Blast at Trent Bridge
Notts Outlaws, the 2017 and 2020 Vitality Blast winners, return to T20 action at Trent Bridge this summer from Friday 27 May to Friday 1 July. Pin your green and gold colours to the mast by securing your seats now.
Purchase your Season Ticket here...
Sunday 29 May, Lightning vs Southern Vipers (Charlotte Edwards Cup): Secure your seats...
Monday 30th May, Notts Outlaws vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks: Secure your seats…
Tuesday 31 May, Notts Outlaws vs Lancashire Lightning: Secure your seats…
Friday 17 June, Notts Outlaws vs Birmingham Bears: Secure your seats…
Tuesday 21 June, Notts Outlaws vs Leicestershire Foxes: Secure your seats…
Thursday 23 June, Notts Outlaws vs Derbyshire Falcons: Secure your seats…
Friday 1 July, Notts Outlaws vs Durham: Secure your seats…