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Maia Bouchier enjoyed a brilliant tour of New Zealand last month, making scores of 43*, 71 and 91 to win the Player of the Series award in the five-match T20I series.
The remarkable showing saw Bouchier win the coveted ICC Women's Player of the Month award for March 2024.
While Bouchier began the series batting at No.3, she switched to the top of the order for the fourth T20I and smashed a career-best 91 off 56 balls.
The highest score by a visiting player against the White Ferns in New Zealand in Women's T20Is 🙌
Well batted, Maia Bouchier 👏
✍: https://t.co/RfeCIlAKgO pic.twitter.com/tt9M3Ks93w
With the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 closing in, Bouchier is eyeing a place at the top of the batting order after her recent performances.
"I've been waiting for that moment," Bouchier said, as revealed by ESPNcricinfo.
"It's been great, I've really enjoyed my cricket and putting in some performances for England. Going into this summer, I'll do as much as I can to grab every opportunity and keep that spot now."
England have used four openers in T20Is in 2024, including Bouchier, with Tammy Beaumont, Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley being the others.
England's head coach, Jon Lewis, had promised Bouchier an extended run in the T20I side and the 25-year-old credits the coach for her recent form.
"It was all about being patient for that moment," Bouchier said. "[Lewis] talked about giving me a little run-in, to make sure I wasn't thinking that everything was riding on one opportunity.
"I guess I had to do those tough years to get to that point, but playing in those [lower-order] positions meant I had to be able to adapt quickly, so that has only helped me going up to the top of the order. I can't really regret any of it. I'll always take that as much as I can."
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