Defending champions Jamaica defeated Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas by a narrow six runs to remain unbeaten in their quests to retain the West Indies Women’s T20 Blaze title. Playing in the second round on Sunday at Warner Park, St Kitts, Jamaica’s top-order got them off to a solid start against some impressive Red Force Divas bowling.
Keneshia Ferron and Rashada Williams shared in a 23-run opening partnership before Ferron fell for six. Williams and Chedean Nation added 27 runs for the second wicket when Williams fell for a run-a-ball 32. But it was the 47-run third wicket stand between Nation and Natasha McLean that gave the Jamaicans any real fighting chance of victory. Nation was dismissed for 32 and McLean 24, after hitting a lofty six.
Red Force Divas skipper Anisa Mohammed led the team’s bowling figures with 4-0-19-3 followed by Lee-Ann Kirby with 4-0-18-2.
In their turn at the crease, the Red Force Divas looked frantic in their scoring as the Jamaica trio of Vanessa Watts, Celina Whyte and Neisha-Ann Waisome kept the scoring under control. However, the middle-order partnership between Britney Cooper and Mohammed gave the Red Force Divas a chance to pull off a dramatic victory. The pair added 38 together before Mohammed was bowled by Waisome for 16 off 12 deliveries and Cooper departed soon after for 29 off 31, she was bowled by Whyte.
In a nervous turn of events, Williams who was captaining the team in the absence of Stafanie Taylor, had to turn to Chedean Nation to get the remaining overs in while rotating the other bowlers. Nation bowled 3-0-18-1 but it was Waisome who did the trick as she finished with figures of 4-0-16-3, as the Red Force Divas finished their innings on 109-9.
Jamaica women
Barbados squeezed past Guyana with a three-wicket victory in the second match of the day. Batting first, Guyana’s top order once again failed to fire but Katana Mentore found an able partner in Cherry-Ann Fraser. The pair rebuilt the Guyanese batting innings with fearless strokes against an experienced Barbados bowling attack. Mentore finished on 32 not out and Fraser 35 not out as they shared in a 69-run partnership to help Guyana reach 91-3 in their 20 overs.
Barbados were cruising in the opening overs as Guyana put down a number of catches in the field. But Kaysia Schultz blew a hole in the Barbados top order, as she bagged the wickets of Trishan Holder for 19 and had Aaliyah Alleyne caught behind for a first-ball ‘duck’. Ashmini Munisar earlier accounted for Kycia Knight for 16.
Once again skipper Shakera Selman held her nerve with the bat and was able to take her team over the line to victory this time scoring 17 not out and a vital 14 from Shamilia Connell. Schultz had the best bowling figures for Guyana with 4-0-13-3.
Selman told CWI Media
“Definitely too close for comfort. I thought we were in control of the game for the first 10 overs (when batting) and I thought we should have won the game more comprehensively but obviously, I’m happy with the win, especially after losing our first game yesterday. Credit to the bowlers, they fought really hard in the first innings.”
Barbados women
The Windward Islands defeated the Leeward Islands by 46 runs in the first match of the day. Batting first, Windwards posted 128-4 from their 20 overs, thanks to a valiant 37 from opener Jannillea Glasgow. The Windwards lower order made up for a lack of runs from the top, as Pearl Etienne struck a quick 24 from 19 deliveries, while youngster Kimone Homer and Qiana Joseph added 21 each not out.
Amanda Edwards led the Leewards run-chase with a hard-fought 39 off 61 balls, and skipper Saneldo Willett provided the best support with a run-a-ball 15. Zaida James was the best Windwards bowler with figures of 4-0-21-2, Pearl Etienne, Qiana Joseph, and Afy Fletcher had one wicket a piece.
The tournament continues on Tuesday. All matches will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel with live scorecards and ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match centre.
MATCH SCHEDULE
CWI T20 Blaze
Round 1: Saturday 20 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Windward Islands vs Guyana – Guyana won by 4 runs
Leeward Islands vs Jamaica – Jamaica won by 8 wickets
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Barbados – T&T Red Force Divas won by 5 wickets
Round 2: Sunday 21 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – Windwards won by 46 runs
Guyana vs Barbados – Barbados won by 3 wickets
Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas – Jamaica won by 6 runs
Round 3: Tuesday 23 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Windward Islands – 10 am
Jamaica vs Barbados – 2:30 pm
Guyana vs Leeward Islands – 7 pm
Round 4: Thursday 25 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Jamaica vs Guyana – 10 am
Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas – 2:30 pm
Barbados vs Windward Islands – 7 pm
Round 5: Saturday 27 May – 8 am
Leeward Islands vs Barbados – Warner Park
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Guyana – St Paul’s
Jamaica vs Windward Islands – Conaree
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