Friday 8 December 2017 18:29, UK
England Women and Southern Vipers seamer, Natasha Farrant, talks 'Snake Pit', 'ViPod' and bus trips in her latest blog on the inaugural Kia Super League...
Hello Again!
First up, I'm sure you're all going to be very pleased to hear that the team chilli con carne I cooked with Fi Morris was a delicious success, and even better, no food poisoning to be seen before our opening game!
That first game was a solid win against the Surrey Stars on home soil. It was a great occasion at The Ageas Bowl, where a loud and excitable crowd of two and a half thousand flocked in.
It was a truly great atmosphere at the newly named 'Snake Pit', with our supporters getting right behind us, (bravely) rocking the luminous orange Vipers replica tops. Let's just say they are very hard to miss!
With a good first win on the board, we were swiftly back in the nets to prepare for an epic journey up to Blackpool to face Lancashire Thunder.
During those few days of training we recruited a new net bowler, Harry Brindle - former England women's all-rounder, Arran Brindle's eight-year-old son. He bowls some handy left-arm seam and has got Suzie Bates out a few times, although she won't admit it!
The lowest point of our competition so far has to be the seven-hour journey from Southampton to Blackpool. No amount of naughty 90s tunes on the newly named 'ViPod' can entertain anyone on a coach for that long! There were definitely a few delirious players when we arrived…
But feeling surprisingly fresh the next day, we claimed our second win against the Thunder in a close, hard fought game.
The win definitely made the journey home a lot more enjoyable, though I sneakily avoided the bus journey back to Southampton, to head home instead.
It left me making the teas for my brother's cricket match the next day… All very rock 'n' roll!
With our next home game against Yorkshire Diamonds on Monday, we are looking to put in another strong performance in front of another big, passionate home crowd at the Snake Pit and make it three wins from three.
Until next time, Fazza
England Women and Southern Vipers left-arm seamer, Natasha Farrant
