Nicole Bolton believes last Sunday’s emphatic win over the Hobart Hurricanes was the ideal dress rehearsal for Saturday’s blockbuster WBBL semifinal against the Adelaide Strikers at Allan Border Field.
Bolton returned to the top of the order for the final game of the regular season last weekend to great effect, combining with captain Meg Lanning for a match-winning 154-run opening stand.
Bolton has been confirmed to remain at the top alongside Lanning as the Scorchers take on the Strikers with England internationals Amy Jones and Nat Sciver unavailable.
“It’s something I’m familiar and comfortable with and I potentially saw it as a role I might have to play later on in the season with Jonesy leaving,” Bolton told the West Australian.
“It was great to get out there on the weekend and have a bit of a dress rehearsal.
“How we played on Sunday was a bit of a blueprint. It was great for Meg to come out and hit some form at the right end of the season and I think heading into the semi on Saturday we’re pretty confident in our ability to bat as long as we can and post a really good opening stand.”
Lanning backed Bolton to do the job again, with the pair combining well many times in the past.
“She has opened a lot throughout her career and has been batting in the middle of the order for us, and probably hasn’t had a great amount of opportunity, just given where she’s batting,” Lanning said.
“So it’s nice for her to step up into that opener’s role and she’s very comfortable there.I really enjoyed batting with her the other day, we’ve done that a lot.
“That gives the team a lot of confidence, Nicole is very confident as well. Hopefully we can repeat that.”
Bolton and the rest of her teammates, including Chloe Piparo, flew to Brisbane today as they finalise preparations.