By Avenash Ramzan
A dominant performance from Barbados ensured a successful defence of the Cricket West Indies CG United Women’s Super50 Cup, beating Jamaica by eight wickets in a rain-affected final on Saturday at the National Stadium, Providence.
Two rain interruptions saw the contest being reduced to 26 overs per side, with Jamaica winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Jamaica managed 118-8, to which Barbados replied with 120-2 from 23.4 overs. It was sweet revenge for the Bajans, who were dethroned by the Jamaicans in the preceding T20 Blaze competition.
The Jamaicans seem set for a competitive total at 60-2 in the 15th over, but lost their way at the backend, losing four wickets for 14 runs in the last two overs.
Skipper Stafanie Taylor led the way with 44 off 57 balls (5x4s) and Natasha McLean 19 off 23 (1×6). Bowling for Barbados, off-spinner Hayley Matthews took 2-16 off six overs and Aaliyah Alleyne 2-19 off five.
Matthews and Kycia Knight then gave the Bajans a solid start of 56 in 11.4 overs to set the foundation for what turned out to be a comprehensive win.
Matthews fell for 22 off 31 (2x4s) and Kyshona Knight was dismissed for 14 off 26 (1x4s), but Kycia Knight batted to the end to hand the ladies in blue the title.
The left-hander ended on 60 not out off 75 balls (7x4s), with Alleyne her partner on 12 off 10 (1×4).
C. Howell and Chinelle Henry were the wicket-takers for Jamaica.
The game brought the curtains down on two and a half weeks of action at the country’s premier sport facility, featuring female teams from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands.
The tournament was being held for the first time since 2019, after the advent of COVID-19 put it on hold in 2020 and 2021.
