WHEN India and the Netherlands fans lined up for Harmanpreet Kaur’s autograph at Headingley, the Indian captain was greeted near the ropes by a familiar face – Yorkshire’s own Sterre Kalis.

In a beautiful full-circle moment, Kalis posed with Harmanpreet for a priceless photo after India outclassed the Netherlands in their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup meeting in Leeds.

For Yorkshire batter Kalis, her admiration for Kaur also stems from a stint earlier in her career with Sydney Thunder in Australia – the same franchise where the Indian captain made a significant impact as an overseas signing in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Kalis commands a decent fan following of her own back in Yorkshire – the classy Dutch batter calling Leeds her home since she moved there in 2020.

HUNGRY FOR MORE: Yorkshire's Sterre Kalis, pictured in action for the Netherlands against India at Headingley on Wednesday. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images

placeholder image — HUNGRY FOR MORE: Yorkshire's Sterre Kalis, pictured in action for the Netherlands against India at Headingley on Wednesday. Picture: George Wood/Getty Images

As India also returned to Leeds for their second T20 World Cup match on Wednesday, buoyed by a morale-boosting win over traditional rivals Pakistan, Netherlands head coach Neil MacRae was hoping Kalis would lead the Dutch batting charge in her backyard.

Chasing a record-breaking 210-run target against India at Headingley, Babette de Leede’s side responded to the challenge by scoring 50 runs in 7.2 overs.

Kalis walked out to a warm ovation from the Yorkshire faithful. Playing with real intent, the 26-year-old smashed three boundaries at a brisk strike rate of just over 138 to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

However, Kalis missed the line completely agains Shafali Verma in the 11th over and was bowled for 18 off 13 balls.

Six overs later, the Netherlands folded for 114 to lose the game by 95 runs.

“She started well, and Headingley is her home stadium; she knows this ground inside out,” said MacRae. “She came in and looked good at the crease; she had some boundaries. I think she just misjudged that delivery from Shafali, played for some turn, and the ball went straight on, and that can happen.

“She is certainly a massive player for us, and she is experienced at the highest level of any player in our team.

"She will be desperate to go and get some runs and go further when we play our next group game against Australia.”

With the Netherlands set to face Australia in Southampton on Saturday, the T20 World Cup debutants will be keen to learn from their mistakes. India capitalised on dropped catches and missed run-out chances to post the highest-ever T20I total in Headingley’s history.

“Nobody tries to drop a catch, and we've spent a lot of time preparing and taking catches in this tournament,” added MacRae. “Unfortunately, Richa Ghosh was dropped. She was on two at the time when she made 20 off eight balls, so that cost us.

“It's something we will continue to work on and improve. What we have coming into this tournament, compared to a side like India - a lot less preparation time.

"So, we are trying to improve our fielding levels like all other parts of our game.”