Glamorgan on 'rapid learning curve' ahead of T20 Blast

Former New Zealand international Rachel Priest was named as Glamorgan's first women's head coach in February

Middlesex Women v Glamorgan Women

Date: Sunday, 1 June; Start time: 12:00 BST

Commentary: BBC Sport Online and BBC Sounds

Glamorgan women's coach Rachel Priest says the team's performances have been "amazing" so far as they prepare to start the T20 Blast competition against Middlesex.

But Priest says they need to keep improving with a move to Tier One, and full professional cricket, scheduled in 2027.

"We need to keep upping it with Tier One cricket in less than a couple of years, all these experiences are helpful to us," she told BBC Sport Wales.

"It is a rapid learning curve but we're coping really well, we're coping under pressure against better cricketers."

Glamorgan won two rounds of the T20 Counties Cup before going down to fully professional Lancashire Thunder.

They have also won three out of four in League Two of the MetroBank One Day cup, only losing narrowly to Middlesex.

"It's another challenge and the girls have more cricket under their belt than last time we played them," said Priest.

Captain Lauren Parfitt, 31, is one of the senior stateswomen of a squad including Academy players from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire as part of regional development work.

"We're really pleased, we've come together as a group with lots of players from different counties in the old structure and we've gelled really well as a group," she said.

"It's a lot to take in, it is surreal, not to get over-awed by what's going on and just play the game we all know and love.

"The aim for everyone is to go professional, the way the game is growing at a huge rate is so exciting and lots of girls are wanting to put their hand up for Tier One spots in a couple of years."

The semi-pro Glamorgan squad have already been boosted by occasional appearances from Somerset, Hampshire and Surrey professionals, which Priest says is part of the longer-term plan.

"We need to be competitive and we need our girls to be exposed to professional cricketers wherever possible," she explained.

"We're looking to recruit players in a year and a half's time and we need to have a look at them, to attract players to play for us when we turn professional."

The opening game against Middlesex at Northwood is one of four double-headers with the men's game, with others in Hove and Cardiff.

"It'll have a massive impact in terms of crowds, there were loads of people and young girls getting involved (in the friendly at Wiltshire), so it can only be a good thing," said Parfitt.

Glamorgan comfortably dispatched Wiltshire by 77 runs in their warm-up game in Swindon, with Bethan Gammon hitting 85 not out and Parfitt 72 not out in Glamorgan's 165-1 before they restricted the home side to 88-5.