Amy Gordon always felt confident she and Kent Women’s opening batting partner Coco Streets could put on a big score together.
While vice-captain Streets had already racked up 392 runs, including two tons, this summer, she anchored the innings with 48 not out while all-rounder Gordon blasted 70 off 46 balls on her return to form.
All-rounder Gordon, talking before the men earned a seven-wicket Blast home win against the same opposition, said: “We complement each other quite well.
“I think our communication is quite good, as well.
“Knowing if we are both hitting it quite well, we know we can put on scores like that, which is great.”
Gordon’s previous high score for the season had been just 29 before her half-century.
“I had a great time,” she admitted. “I haven’t been able to contribute with the bat like I wanted to at the beginning of the season.
“So, it was nice to contribute to the team.”
But Gordon wasn’t fully aware of just how well her and Streets had gone in the successful run-chase until she had been dismissed.
On the partnership, she said: “You get taken away with the moment a little bit.
“I don’t think I quite realised until I came off that we put on 102 without losing either of us.
“That was really nice.”
Her knock against Sussex in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 included 10 fours and two sixes. But Gordon sees no reason why either should adopt a more defensive approach, regardless of how their opening partner is going.
She said: “It’s definitely a case of seeing what happens.
“If Coco kept hitting boundaries, I would have tried to put her on strike. A couple overs in, I’d hit a few fours, and she said ‘I’m going to try and rotate’ but, also, I’m a big fan that – if it’s in her area – she should hit it, too.
“Just because one of us is going well, that doesn’t mean both of us can’t.”
Earlier, the Horses had pulled the away team back to 130-6 after a good start. The final over, bowled by Sydney Gorham – the sister of non-league footballer Ben Gorham – going for just one run.
“It massively helps, especially with Syd’s last over,” admitted spinner Gordon, who returned figures of 2-19 off four overs.
“When you only go for one off the last over, you can feel a bit more confident, going into the chase, that your bowlers have done a good job.”
Those efforts came despite several catching chances being dropped.
Gordon conceded: “That’s tough.
“We have made comments about our fielding and we know that we need to try and improve it.
“We want to be the best fielding team that we can be. There needs to be a lot of encouragement. Sometimes, it’s difficult but we back our girls.
“You just have to forget it and move on – at least until the innings is done.”
Kent’s victory over the Sharks came just three days after they had been skittled for 54 against Middlesex Women.
“We spoke about that a lot,” Gordon revealed. “Sometimes, that happens where you get a couple of good balls.
“That’s not the team we are – we know we’re better than that – so we really wanted to come out on Monday and show the sort of cricket we can play.”
Nevertheless, it was a memorable experience for Gordon and her Kent team-mates.
She admitted: “The occasion is great.
“To be able to play at Lord’s, that’s not something many girls can say they have done in their careers. For us to be able to do that, I think that’s a really positive step in the right direction.
“Sometimes, the occasion can just get the better of someone and stuff like that can happen.”
Helping guide the players through the experience of playing on two main county venues in the space of a matter of days was head coach James Hockley, who played for Kent men’s outfit between 1998 and 2010.
Gordon said: “He’s great. He’s supportive of us and just wants the best for the team but, also, for us as individuals. He’s always full of encouragement.
“That’s a really nice thing to get off your coach.”
Gordon is setting her sights high as Kent Women now prepare to return to action against Gloucestershire Women in the Blast at Canterbury on Sunday.
She said: “We want to make it to the finals.
“It’s so obvious to say that, isn’t it? But I think, especially compared to where we were last year, I feel we can give it a good push this year.
“We are definitely aiming to finish as high as we can.”
