Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com. Sterre Kalis impressed at Headingley yesterday.
Sterre Kalis spoke of a “special knock” as her 83 not out against Essex helped Yorkshire’s women into the quarter-finals of the Vitality County T20 competition yesterday.
Dutch star Kalis underpinned her county’s imposing 188-4 batting first against Tier 1 opposition at Headingley, to which the Eagles responded with 177-8.
Kalis posted her season’s best score in all cricket for either Yorkshire or Warwickshire, who she has been playing on loan with, and she shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 113 with Maddie Ward, the 20-year-old vice captain who also had an excellent day.
Ward’s career best 43 not out was followed by a wicket with her spin bowling.
Yorkshire will host either Devon or Warwickshire in the last eight next Saturday at Weetwood. Those two counties are playing their third round tie this lunchtime.
“For me, it was quite a special knock, obviously at Headingley as well,” said Kalis, 25-years-old.
“We always speak about runs on the board. It’s always good in this T20 format. They came quite close in the end, but a chase is always on at Headingley – a good batting pitch.
“I think everyone’s done brilliantly to finish on top.”
A real feature of the Kalis and Ward partnership was how they almost toyed with Essex’s bowlers in the closing stages. Kalis played superbly through and over the off-side, while Ward was successful on the reverse sweep.
“We had a lot of momentum on our side (at the back end of the innings),” added Kalis.
“At Headingley, it’s always racing away. If you make good contact with the ball, it mostly runs away for four.
“I think we were really smart seeing where the boundary options were.
“Batting with Maddie, she was really calm and backed her own strengths as well. I think she’s done a good job there.”
