Sterre Kalis played a pivotal role for Yorkshire, scoring an unbeaten 83 to help defeat Essex by 11 runs, which secured their advance to the quarter-finals of the Vitality County T20 Cup. Kalis, representing the Netherlands, was in excellent form, striking 14 fours and one six as Yorkshire posted 188 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Maddy Ward supported with a personal best of 43, and together they formed an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 113 in the final 10.4 overs. Essex’s bowlers struggled to apply pressure, and their batters failed to meet the target as Yorkshire notched their sixth consecutive win across all competitions. Essex ended on 177 for 8, with Beth Langston successfully defending 20 runs in the final over.
Yorkshire will host either Devon or Warwickshire at Weetwood in the quarter-finals, as the tournament, often likened to the FA Cup of county cricket, reaches its decisive stages.
Meanwhile, Durham booked a quarter-final spot with a dramatic victory over Somerset at Exmouth. After both sides finished with 124 for 9, the match went to a Super Over. Somerset needed three runs in the final over of their innings with one wicket left. Katherine Fraser bowled five consecutive dot-balls before Alex Griffiths levelled the score with a two off the final ball.
In the Super Over, Heather Knight hit a four off Mady Villiers’s first delivery but was later stumped alongside Rebecca Odgers, leaving a target of nine for Durham. Bess Heath quickly dispatched Charlie Dean’s first two deliveries for four, clinching the win for Durham.
In another match, Surrey faired better than Hampshire at Beckenham, with Kira Chathli scoring 95 off 47 balls and Alice Capsey contributing an unbeaten 89 from 45, setting a total of 237 for 7. Hampshire’s Maia Bouchier, recently dropped from the England squad, scored 53 off 29 but received little support, resulting in a final score of 180 for 9.
Kent continued their progress by defeating Cambridgeshire by 80 runs after setting a target of 193 for 2. The Blaze also secured a convincing win over Oxfordshire, bowling them out for 97 and sealing victory by ten wickets.
In another Saturday encounter, Leicestershire triumphed over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road by 41 runs, thanks to a crucial innings of 52 from 39 balls by Francesca Sweet.
