Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Ami Campbell helped finish off Yorkshire’s semi-final win over Middlesex at Radlett in early September.
Yorkshire’s women enjoyed a trophy-winning Tier 2 campaign, triumphant in the 50-over Metro Bank One-Day Cup. They also reached the final of the Vitality Blast and the quarter-finals of the other T20 competition, the Vitality County Cup.
Through the first half of the winter, we will be running a series of articles with members’ player-of-the-year Ami Campbell, who has been reflecting on key moments throughout the summer.
We have entitled this series ‘Campbell’s Classics’.
In this latest article, Ami reflects on the superb semi-final victory over Middlesex at Radlett in early September, qualifying Yorkshire for the final of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Revenge was timely and very sweet as Yorkshire beat Middlesex for the first time in 2025, keeping their trophy dream alive.
The White Rose had been previously beaten twice by the Lord’s based county, once in the final of the Vitality Blast and again in the group stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Picture by John Heald. Beth Langston set the tone beautifully with the ball at Radlett.
Middlesex were one of the standout sides in this summer’s Tier 2, and they certainly wouldn’t look out of place up in Tier 1.
Champions in the Blast, captain Saskia Horley and co won all nine 50-over group games to sail through to a home semi-final at their Hertfordshire outground on Sunday September 7.
Yorkshire, meanwhile, won five of their nine games and finished fourth in the table, only confirming their knockout place on the final day of group action.
“I remember thinking on that day, ‘We’re ready to beat these guys’,” said Ami Campbell.
“We’d been building so well up until that point.
“We’d learnt so much, and everyone was really settling into their roles nicely. There was a lot of confidence around the squad. We knew that even if two or three of us could perform on the day, we were in with a good chance.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com. Sterre Kalis top-scored in the chase with 65 not out.
“I certainly remember the feeling that day was a lot calmer than what felt in the other final (Vitality Blast) against them.”
Yorkshire won a low-scoring affair with some comfort in the end, by six wickets chasing 195 with 11.1 overs to spare.
With it, they booked their final spot against Glamorgan at New Road in Worcester the following Sunday.
Middlesex recovered from 88-5 to post 194 all out, thanks largely to Horley’s measured 88 on a sluggish pitch. Scoring runs certainly wasn’t easy all through the day.
Yorkshire were excellent with the ball, keeping the pressure on all the way through.
Seamers Beth Langston and Hannah Rainey struck twice apiece alongside off-spinner Ria Fackrell. Fellow spinners Claudie Cooper and Olivia Thomas also claimed a wicket apiece.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. New fast-bowling signing Hannah Rainey struck twice at Radlett.
Langston, with the new ball, was particularly impressive, finishing with 2-39 from 10 overs.
“Langers is on the money all of the time,” praised Campbell. “That game, she took two wickets, but she could have had four or five with the way she bowled.
“She was unlucky not to have had at least three wickets.
“There was a caught behind that should have been given.
“That was the best she bowled all season, I would say.
“Langers is someone you can just rely on in every part of the game, whether it’s with ball, bat or in the field. She’s a great person to have around, both on and off the field.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Maddie Ward contributed crucial semi-final runs.
In reply, Yorkshire fell to 55-3 inside 10 overs, and the game was in the balance.
But Sterre Kalis was key to getting her side over the line.
The Netherlands international shared fourth and fifth-wicket partnerships of 67 and 73 unbroken with Maddie Ward (37) and Campbell (34 not out).
Kalis top-scored with 65 not out off 79 balls.
“Sterre and Maddie did well to keep their cool and build a partnership,” continued Campbell. “That’s all we needed, really.
“I remember how slowly they were playing, and I think they were both getting a bit frustrated. But we sent on some drinks with the message of, ‘Remember, you’re not playing for your strike-rate here. You’re playing to win the game. Just stay there’.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Rich Pyrah’s side booked their second summer final appearance.
“It was almost like, play boring cricket if you have to.
“It didn’t matter if they faced 20 dots balls. We had the time.
“Thankfully, it worked for us.”
