Steelbacks skipper Wakely: We can beat anyone

The Steelbacks, who have won seven of their previous nine NatWest T20 Blast matches, head to Edgbaston for a game against Birmingham Bears.

The Bears are sitting pretty in the North Group, having already qualified and knowing a win will secure a home quarter-final.

But the Steelbacks are still in need of points to progress and a victory at Birmingham would seal their place in the last eight.

And Wakely is confident his men can get the job done ahead of their final group game, at home to Durham Jets on Friday night.

“The way I’m looking at it is that we’ve got two more games and if we play our best cricket we’ll win,” said the skipper.

“We’ve got a good enough team to beat anyone and if we perform as we are at the moment we’ll give anyone a run for their money.

“If we win our next game we’ll be through.

“In 2013 (when the Steelbacks won the T20 competition) it was about momentum and we’ve got momentum now.”

Wakely top scored with 46 as the Steelbacks claimed a seven-wicket win against Yorkshire Vikings at the County Ground last Friday.

And he was clearly spurred on by the home support, with more than 6,500 people packing into the venue.

“The last three home games the crowd has been phenomenal,” Wakely said. “It was a massive crowd on Friday.

“To look around and see everyone in the seats and standing was amazing, and they do play a part.

“I’ve always asked the crowd here to egg a few people on and give the opposition a bit of stick and they’re doing that now.

“The support has been phenomenal.”