Tulloch Eyeing Perfect End to T20 Campaign at Finals Day

On Friday, Poppy will be part of the Hampshire side looking to lift the Vitality T20 Blast title for the first time in front of the sizeable crowd at a sun-baked Oval in South London.

Then on Saturday? She'll be following the fortunes of the rest of her family in league cricket.

"I've got two older brothers, a younger sister, and a dad who still plays - in fact I think he's playing for the first team this weekend which he's looking forward to - and I think they'll all have games this weekend," she says, laughing on the outfield of the Oval.

"The support I get from them is phenomenal but we're pretty much a cricket mad family - there are no stats my mum doesn't know.

"And the fact that I'm still relatively new to all this means that every time I play there's a fresh sense of excitement.

"My mum and dad have been there for so many matches so far this season."

What a campaign they've witnessed, not just from the 20-year-old, but from Paul Prichard's side as a whole.

Hampshire have lost just four of their 23 matches across the Blast and the Metro Bank One Day Cup so far this season.

"It has been fantastic to be involved," says Swindon-born, Tulloch.

"To be part of the double-headers in the T20 has been incredible, the crowds have been unbelievable at times.

"But the support we've received in the 50 over comp has been great too. Having played away from the Bowl, we know that not every team is getting the kind of crowds that we are."

The absence of the likes of Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith and Freya Kemp, who have spent the majority of the season on duty with the national team, has handed Tulloch opportunities that might otherwise have passed her by.

She has wasted no time in making the most of them.

Now, on Friday at one of world cricket's most iconic grounds, she'll once again get the opportunity to remind herself just how far she has come since she first pitched up as a youngster at Hungerford - the club at which Lauren Bell also made her entry into the sport.

"Her parents, Andy and Morag still do a lot of club stuff," says Tulloch.

"I started playing as soon as there was an age group I could go into.

"They didn't have much women's cricket at the time but there were never any issues slotting into the boys teams.

"There's now a lot of girls and women playing there. I'm not sure how big our women's set-up is - but I think they've managed to keep it fairly well mixed.

"As a young girl playing the sport, I think that helps. It teaches you a lot.

"I would very often be the only girl - you have to learn a lot about being resilient, you have to hold your own. 

"That can only be good for your development."

Tulloch has shown a similar steely streak this season after forcing her way into Hampshire's first team plans.

And with Durham lying in wait in the first semi-final - hosts Surrey and the Blaze will contest the other last four match - she believes her Hampshire side have nothing to fear.

"Yes we lost against Surrey last week, which obviously wasn't great, but we've already beaten them this season," she says.

"We learnt what the errors were here at the Oval. 

"It's the same with the Blaze and Durham.

"We've shown we can't just compete with these sides but we can beat them.

"It (Finals Day) will mean a lot to all of us

"For me, it's a dream come true. No-one is taking any of our success for granted.

"Days like this were something no-one thought were possible not that long ago, now we're here we have to make the absolute most out of them."