Linsey Smith says her big-game experience will benefit Yorkshire Diamonds

Smith has played each of the three finals so far, winning one title with the Southern Vipers in 2016 and then being a runner-up with the Vipers in 2017 and again with Loughborough Lightning last summer

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If Yorkshire Diamonds are to reach Finals Day in the Kia Super League for the first time this summer, Linsey Smith’s know-how may be vital.

In the last year of the KSL, the Diamonds are hoping to go out with a bang at Hove on September 1, a showpiece occasion with which the England left-arm spinner is pretty familiar.

Smith has played each of the three finals so far, winning one title with the Southern Vipers in 2016 and then being a runner-up with the Vipers in 2017 and again with Loughborough Lightning last summer.

The Middlesex-born 24-year-old, now with her third team in four years, is confident the Diamonds can break their duck and will obviously be doing all she can to carry them to glory.

“The group we’ve got here at Yorkshire, it’s really exciting,” said the nine-time T20 international. 

“The local girls and the overseas, there’s bags of talent there. 

“There’s also bags of experience. But it can only help us to have some experience of what it takes to get to Finals Day. You do learn from each year.

“We didn’t come out on top with the Lightning last year for example, but I learnt plenty from it, as I have with all the big games I’ve played in - for England or in this competition.

“Fingers crossed, we can go one step further with the Diamonds.”

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Smith impressed with one for 21 from four overs in Tuesday’s opening-night defeat against reigning champions Surrey Stars at Emerald Headingley and will return to the same venue on Sunday to take on her former team, Loughborough.

It forms part of a T20 double header with the Yorkshire men, with the KSL game starting at 11am.

Smith will come up against former team-mate Georgia Adams, the Lightning batter who has also played in all three finals to date.

“I was with Loughborough for a year and was at University there (studying sports coaching), so I know their set-up quite well,” continued Smith, who took the new ball against the Stars on Tuesday.

“It will be nice to play against them and hopefully get the win.

“They’ve got some new players as well, but there’s a few of my mates still in that team. 

“It’s going to be a challenge for me over the next few weeks with it being a new team, but that’s no problem. I’m really looking forward to it and trying to build on last year.

“I felt I bowled well last year (11 wickets from as many games).

“I really enjoy bowling at the tough times in matches, in the power play for example, and coming out on top.”

 

Meanwhile, Tuesday’s Stars defeat saw another spinner shine for the Diamonds in Helen Fenby, the leg-spinner with an eye-catching action reminiscent of former South Africa men’s spinner Paul Adams.

Fenby returned standout figures of four for 20 from her four overs.

Fenby, who plays her regular county cricket for Durham, echoed Smith’s comments about the confidence within the Diamonds camp.

She added: “I had a good little bowling performance, but all the bowlers contributed well. It just wasn't the best for us to have such a close game and not come out with the win.

“We have confidence going forward (as a team) because there were a lot of positives. We just have to see how the tournament goes from now.”

Courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network

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