Women’s U-19: Guyana into final despite defeat to Windward Islands

Guyana’s Under-19 Women’s team booked their place in the Cricket West Indies Regional U-19 T20 tournament final despite a narrow two-wicket defeat to the Windward Islands on Thursday in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Guyanese will face Leeward Islands in Saturday’s championship game.

Opting to bat first on Thursday, Guyana’s batters struggled to find rhythm, managing only 60 runs in 18 overs.

Shonette Belgrave and Nyia Latchman had a joint top score of eight each.

Nesha Alexander emerged as the bowling standout for the Windward Islands, claiming a phenomenal 4-8 haul from four overs, while Selena Ross provided valuable support with 3-8 from three overs.

Despite the modest target, the Windward’s chase was a cautious affair. Denella Creese anchored the innings with an unbeaten 25 (3x4s) off 36 balls. Contributions from Nesha Alexander (9) and extras (14) ensured the Windwards reached their target in 18.3 overs.

Latchman continued her impressive form with 2-6, while Trisha Hardat had 2-2.

While this loss ended their winning streak, Guyana had already secured the top spot on the points table before this match. The final is slated for the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

This presents a golden opportunity for Guyana to claim its first-ever regional female title at any level.

Guyana finished the group stage with a dominant display, leading the table with 16 points. Leeward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago tied for second with 12 points each. The Windward Islands follow with 10 points, while Barbados (6) and Jamaica (4) round out the standings.