T20 FINALS DAY: Steelbacks coach Ripley says ‘Let’s do it again!’

Northants travel to Birmingham for the NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day in confident mood, with the quarter-final hammering of Sussex Sharks at Hove still fresh in the memory.

They face a semi-final against host team Birmingham Bears at 11am on Saturday, and will be hoping to win that tough tie to set up a final date against either Hampshire or Lancashire Lightning.

With the team just two matches and 80 overs of cricket away from claiming silverware, Ripley admits it would be a huge boost to repeat the heroics of 2013.

“It would be great,” said Ripley. “We are not a club with a huge history of trophies, so every time we win something it is going to be special.

“Following on so quickly from the last one, rather than a 21-year wait, would be a bonus.

“The majority of us have experienced it, and that was certainly my best day in cricket, and to have the chance to go and repeat it is very exciting.”

Ripley knows the Steelbacks face a tough task to lift the trophy, but he is certain his team can do it.

“I don’t think there is any lack of confidence,” said Ripley. “I don’t think that is a job I have to concentrate on this week, because we have a lot of belief and we know we can win.

“The Sussex fixture is another reminder of that. They brought in two current internationals to bolster their team, and it was a one-horse race.

“We can beat anybody, everybody believes that, and it is just about trying to make sure we can do ourselves justice on the day.

“We know we have to play well, and we will have to play well to beat teams, but the other teams will have to play well to beat us.”

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