Sterre Kalis impresses as Women’s Global Development Squad tour gets underway

The aim of the project is to provide some of the most promising players from below the top level with more game time and the chance to learn from some of the best coaches in the world. This time round, former Australia captain and World T20 and Women’s Cricket World Cup winner Alex Blackwell has been offering them some tips.

She turned from coach to opponent for the WGDS’ first two fixtures against Sydney Thunder. The first game was the more closely fought, with the WGDS bowlers combining well to restrict Thunder to 151/7. Blackwell made just 13 before becoming one of two victims for Papua New Guinea bowler Kaia Arua, while Scotland’s Priyanaz Chatterji also claimed two wickets.

WGDS were given a strong start in reply by the Netherlands’ Sterre Kalis, who made 33 off 29 balls. She drove her side to 62/1 after eight overs, but no other batsman could pass 12, and WGDS subsided to 114/7.

The second game was more chastening, with Thunder putting up an imposing 200/1 on the back of a century from Naomi Stalenberg, who retired out after bringing up the landmark from 55 balls. Blackwell also chipped in with 51 from just 30 balls.

Amidst the carnage, Arua again impressed, conceding just 29 runs from her four overs, while Thailand’s Nattaya Boochatham conceded seven an over from her three overs. It was her compatriot, Nattakan Chantham who top-scored in the reply with 36 from 30 balls, but WGDS were always likely to struggle, and ended on 113/6.

Their third game came against Brisbane Heat, and was the closest of the lot. WGDS batted first and could only put up 92/7, with 54 of those coming from Kalis’ bat, the youngster contributing 58.7 per cent of her side’s runs.

But WGDS battled hard and came within three wickets of snatching an unlikely victory. This time Ravini Oa was the key figure, the PNG pace bowler claiming 3/22. Boochatham also impressed, claiming 2/12 from three overs.