Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Sterre Kalis spoke after starring in today’s semi-final win at Radlett.
Sterre Kalis described Yorkshire’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-final win over Middlesex at Radlett today as a “proper team effort”.
Dutch international Kalis top-scored with a determined 65 not out in the county’s successful pursuit of 195, winning by six wickets with more than 11 overs to spare.
It qualified the White Rose for next Sunday’s final against Glamorgan at New Road.
Kalis shared half-century stands with Maddie Ward 37 and Ami Campbell 34 not out after Erin Thomas aggressive 38 had got the chase off to a good start.
Middlesex, earlier bowled out for 194, fought back to reduce Yorkshire to 55-3, but that’s where Kalis – back from her loan spell with the Bears – stepped up to prevent Middlesex beating the county for a third time this summer.
“That was a good win,” she said. “I’m glad we got on the right side of it this time.
“The bowlers got us off to a good start.
“Langers bowling 10 overs straight through with the new ball, that’s obviously quite tough. She’s done really well and helped to keep them to a total we thought we could chase.
“I thought the chase was really good. We obviously had a few tough patches where we really had to fight through. But we did that well and chased it down quite convincingly in the end.”
On the pitch, Kalis said: “It was one of those pitches where it was easier to get going once you were in.
“They showed that as well in the first innings. After a tough start, they built a bit of a partnership and got them to a total where they were in the game.
“Es (Erin Thomas) then got us off to a good start, but we lost her, Liv and Lauren.
“Myself and Maddie had to rebuild, and we had to battle through. But we did it really well, and Ami took the pressure off straightaway at the end.”
A key moment came when Kalis was dropped at mid-off on 13.
“It was a bit frustrating at the start,” she reflected. “I couldn’t get going at the strike-rate I wanted to, But you need to put your ego on the side at that moment. Strike-rate is not really key.
“It was a bit unnatural for me to go that slowly at the start, but that’s what the team needed.”
Kalis will be available for next week’s final.
And she added: “Middlesex are a good side.
“They’ve won nine out of nine games in this group stage, and I think even in the T20s they only lost one game.
“We knew we had to play good cricket today to beat them, and everyone’s happy we came on the right side.
“I think we have two days off now and a couple of training sessions this week. And we’ll be ready for the final. It’s very exciting.”
