Kirstie Gordon feels togetherness was key as The Blaze sealed their place in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final, with only Southern Vipers standing between the side and a maiden domestic trophy.

Captain Gordon leads a squad of 16 for tomorrow’s showpiece at Northampton (10.30am start), with tickets available via Northamptonshire CCC.

The Blaze secured their passage to the final with a rain-affected eight-wicket win over South East Stars in the Eliminator, and the skipper feels the seeds of that success were sewn the previous evening.

“After we lost to the Vipers defeat, it was time for a few arms around shoulders, and then we had a fun night in the team room the night before the Eliminator,” she said,

“Me and Guesty [Head Coach Chris Guest] put our focus into bringing the team together and having a bit of a fun, and reminding everyone why we play the game.

“Nobody’s disputing the skill we’ve got in the group, because we’ve shown it enough over the course of the season. Sometimes in cricket, you just have to fight your way out of a dip.”

After dismissing their opponents for under 150 at Beckenham, The Blaze were forced from the field for some three hours by the rain, before facing a revised chase of 37 runs in the space of 40 remaining deliveries.

Watching on, Gordon confessed to feeling a little nervous.

“It was stressful, I won’t lie!” she said.

“The thought of potentially having a bowl-out was a bit nerve-racking. When you’ve performed so well in the field, you want that opportunity to go and knock the runs off, which thankfully we got in the end.

“It was a real team effort with the ball – wickets were shared around, and when everyone stands up in a game of that importance it’s really pleasing.

“And then Sarah Bryce [who made an unbeaten 34] was brilliant in the chase, and kicked on at the perfect time. The way we won shows what this group is about.”

Southern Vipers defeated The Blaze to win the Charlotte Edwards Cup in June, and have reached the final in each of the three editions of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

“Vipers have set the bar in domestic women’s cricket over the past few years, but we’ll try and take things from the last few times we’ve faced them and upset that rhythm they’ve had in finals,” said Gordon.

“All focus is on tomorrow and the goal of lifting that trophy. When we get chance to look back on this summer, we’ll realise it’s been a fantastic year and one to build on going forward, but I think we’ll be incomplete without that trophy.”