Winning start for Guyana in Women’s T20 Blaze

Guyana made a winning start to the Cricket West Indies’ Women’s T20 Blaze, defeating Leeward Islands by seven wickets in the opening round on Thursday at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in St. Vincent.

Chasing 89 for victory, Guyana lost three wickets in achieving the win in 18.2 overs.

Opener Realeanna Grimmond led the chase with a run-a-ball 33, which included two fours and a six, while skipper Shemaine Campbelle stroked an unbeaten 23 off 25 (2x4s).

Cherry-Ann Fraser (11*) and Shabika Gajnabi (10) also contributed to the win.

Skipper Amanda Edwards (1-10), Rozel Liburd (1-18) and Davronique Maynard (1-22) were the wicket-takers for Leeward Islands, who made 88-7 from their allotted 20 overs.

Edwards topscored with 28 off 29 (1×4, 2x6s), opener Qiana Joseph made 25 off 41 (3x4s) and Divya Saxena 12* off 17.

Bowling for Guyana, Sheneta Grimmond took 3-15, Ashmini Munisar 2-17 and Gajnabi 1-22.

In the other two first round games at the same venue, Trinidad and Tobago defeated Barbados by 36 runs and Jamaica defeated Windward Islands by seven wickets.

Below are the summarised results from the first round matches 

Guyana defeated Leeward Islands by seven wickets. SUMMARY: Leeward Islands 88-7 from 20 overs (Amanda Edwards 28, Qiana Joseph 25, Divya Saxena 12*; Sheneta Grimmond 3-15, Ashmini Munisar 2-17, Shabika Gajnabi 1-22) vs Guyana 89-3 from 18.2 overs (Realeanna Grimmond 33, Shemaine Campbelle 23*, Cherry-Ann Fraser 11*, Shabika Gajnabi 10; Amanda Edwards 1-10, Rozel Liburd 1-18, Davronique Maynard 1-22)

Trinidad and Tobago defeated Barbados by 36 runs. SUMMARY: Trinidad and Tobago 114-7 from 20 overs (Rachael Vincent 50, Britney Cooper 42; Keila Elliott 5-17) vs Barbados 78 all out from 17.5 overs (Kyshona Knight 24*, Allison Gordon 12, Naijanni Cumberbatch 10; Steffie Soogrim 3-15, Lee-Ann Kirby 2-11)

Jamaica defeated Windward Islands by seven wickets. SUMMARY: Windward Islands 85 all out from 18.3 overs (Afy Fletcher 32, Carena Noel 15, Zaida James 11; Chedean Nation 3-7, Nicole Campbell 3-13, Vanessa Watts 3-18) vs Jamaica 86-3 from 15.2 overs (Rashada Williams 41*, Chinelle Henry 26; Holly Charles 1-8, Afy Fletcher 1-9, Jannillea Glasgow 1-20)

Round Two of the tournament will take place on Saturday (May 3) at the Arnos Vale Playing Field with another triple-header.

Guyana and Windward Islands will open play at 10:00h, followed by Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago from 14:30h and Barbados versus Leeward Islands under lights from 19:00h.