SOUTHERN Vipers’ Lauren Bell is insistent no pressure is coming from head coach Charlotte Edwards ahead of the final of the T20 competition that bears her name, writes Milly McEvoy.

The Vipers will look to add the Charlotte Edwards Cup to a bulging trophy cabinet that already boasts two 50-over triumphs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

Fast bowler Bell contributed five wickets as Southern Vipers went unbeaten in the group stages and they will face either Central Sparks or holders South East Stars in the final in Northampton on Saturday.

“She (Edwards) just wants us to be our best,” the 21-year-old said. “She's just a winner and that's the only reason she wants us to play our best cricket.

“She's confident we can beat any team we come up against if we do that. There’s not so much pressure that it is named after her, she’s just a winner and wants us to do our best on Saturday.

“She's pretty down to earth, you wouldn't know she is who she is but she's great. She has so much knowledge and she's just great for everybody.”

Bell and the Vipers suffered defeat in last year’s eliminator as Northern Diamonds advanced to take on the Stars, something that is spurring on the South Coast side this time.

This year, it is the Stars who must come through the semi-final and if they do, they will face an opponent with few weaknesses.

Vipers’ bowling line-up includes England internationals Bell, Georgia Elwiss and breakout World Cup star Charlie Dean, while England’s leading T20 wicket-taker Anya Shrubsole joined this season as player-coach, which Bell believes has added another dimension.

She added: “Anya’s been an amazing addition and she's so passionate about coaching, she loves it. She's been great with Freya (Kemp, young seam bowler), she's been able to really help her and give her some confidence.

“For me, she's just great to chat to, she's experienced everything I'm going through, and she's done everything, so she's just a great person to turn to.”

Captain Georgia Adams opens the batting, with England’s Danni Wyatt the Vipers’ leading run-scorer having scored 201 runs in the group stages.

Just ahead of Wyatt in the run charts are players from each of the semi-final teams with Aylish Cranstone leading the way for South East Stars on 235.

England wicket-keeper Amy Jones is the competition’s top run-scorer with 245 runs in six games, the World Cup final defeat spurring the 28-year-old on for more silverware.

Jones scored 40 when the sides met at Guildford with young firecracker Issy Wong crashing 45 from 28 as well as taking one for 14 from her four overs.

Sparks came away the winners by 34 runs before Stars got revenge in the return fixture to top Group B with five wins.

Despite the two sides being familiar foes, they will present a new challenge to Vipers as Bell and her side look to make amends for last season’s semi-final defeat and unite the domestic trophies.

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