Barbados lift T20 Blaze title to complete regional ‘double’

Barbados completed the ‘double’ by capturing the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s T20 Blaze, defeating Leeward Islands by eight wickets on the final day of the competition on Saturday.

Entering the match at Warner Park level with Guyana on 12 points and needing a victory to secure the title, Barbados chased down 122 to complete their all-important fourth victory of the tournament, with 15 balls to spare.

Last week they won the CG United Super50 title.

At St Paul’s Sports Complex, Guyana sensationally defended a score of just 39 to come away with a nailbiting one-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago, and finish level on points with Barbados.

However, Barbados were adjudged winners, having won the head-to-head clash by three wickets in the second round last Sunday.

“We were expected to win. Obviously last year we missed out narrowly in the T20s but we’re really happy to have taken both” said Barbados captain, Shakera Selman.

In the other game played at Conaree, Windward Islands ended the tournament on a high with a six-wicket take down of deposed champions Jamaica.

Aware Guyana had already secured the points they needed, Barbados knew a slip up would be costly and produced a clinical performance.

Asked to bowl first, they restricted Leewards to 121-5 off their 20 overs with Divya Saxena top-scoring with 33 not out.

She struck a four and faced 50 balls, and held the innings together with a string of partnerships, adding 24 for the second wicket with Melicia Clarke (13), 23 for the third with Amanda Edwards (15), 30 for the fourth with Jahzara Claxton (13) and 30 for the fifth with Rozel Liburd (20).

In reply, left-hander Kycia Knight took responsibility for the run chase with an unbeaten 63 off 51 balls with nine fours.

She put on 80 for the first wicket with all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne who made 32 from 26 balls with five fours, before adding a further 37 in an unbroken third wicket stand with Trishan Holder (13 not out).

RESULTS

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 – Windwards won by 7 wickets

Jamaica vs Barbados – Barbados won by 9 wickets

Guyana vs Leeward Islands – Guyana won by 5 wickets

Round 4: Thursday 25 May (all matches played at Warner Park)

Jamaica vs Guyana – Guyana won by 8 wickets

Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas – T&T Red Force Divas won by 6 wickets

Barbados vs Windward Islands – Barbados won by 4 wickets

Round 5: Saturday 27 May

Leeward Islands vs Barbados – Warner Park- Barbados won by 8 wickets

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Guyana – St Paul’s- Guyana won by 1 run

Jamaica vs Windward Islands – Conaree- Windwards won by 6 wickets