.. Jamaica complete 10-wicket win over Leewards

A determined effort from Guyana Women’s senior cricket team in the field, led them to an unlikely 18.-run victory over Windward Islands in the final game of the penultimate round of Cricket West Indies Women’s T20 Blaze last evening at the National Stadium, Providence.

Medium pacer and player-of-the-match Erva Giddings and Akaze Thomspon bowled in the right areas and destroyed the Islanders batting with match winning figures of 3-17 and 2-7 respectively.

It was another low scoring affair and not the most polished of batting displays as the Islanders first did well to restrict the hosts to 105-8 at the end of their allotted overs after being asked to bat first.

However, the Islanders’ batters failed to bat with technique and found themselves in deep trouble and were eventually restricted to 87-8.

Tremayne Smartt top-scored with 40 off 43 balls, with five boundaries while Shemaine Campbelle struck two boundaries in her 28 off 33 balls. Cherry Ann Fraser made 17 towards the end of the innings for the home team.

Earlier opener Sheneta Grimmond opened her account with a lovely cover boundary off the innings first delivery from medium pacer Akeira Peters (1-9), but perished two balls later.
Peters’ gentle pace did the trick, sneaking through the right-hander attempted cover drive and cannoning into the top of middle stumps.

Fellow opener, Smartt, who also opened her run-chart with a classic cover boundary off left-arm medium pacer Nerissa Crafton was joined by Campbelle, and the duo second-wicket stand of 66 in 84 balls, was the backbone of the Guyanese total, though the pursuit was not without its nervy moments.

The approach by the Berbician pair, who have played 149 T20s between them was simple: rotating the strike off good deliveries and punishing the loose ones along with some exceptional placement.

However, from 70-2, the hosts lost seven wickets for just 34 runs. Off-spinner Swayline Williams (2-21), left-arm spinner Qiana Joseph (1-19) Afy Fletcher (1-19) and Crafton (1-22), were the other wicket-taken bowlers.

The visitors’ then managed a brisk start through openers Stacy Ann Adams and Crafton as they added 35 runs in the first six overs before off-spinner Mandy Mangru (1-26), broke the promising stand with the wicket of Crafton, who hit four boundaries in her a run-a-ball 22.

A double change at both ends saw the Giddings returning for her second spell in the ninth over to remove both Fletcher (6) and Juliana Nero (0), off consecutive deliveries, while Thomspon claimed the wicket of Adams for 18, to leave the visitors at 50-4 at the half way stage of the innings.Both Giddings and Thomspon, were again in celebration mood when they removed Glendeen Turtin and Joseph.

Thereafter runs dried up significantly with the visiting team could only mustered 33 runs in last eight overs, losing two additional wickets.

Spinner Grimmond (1-15), was the other successful bowler for the Guyanese.
Meanwhile, Jamaica completed a stunning 10-wicket win over the Leeward Islands in match two.

Chasing a paltry 62 for victory, the defending champions reached 67 without loss in 6.4 overs. Jodian Morgan (30 off 24 balls while Natasha Mclean struck a 16-ball 28. Both batters hit five fours and a six apiece.

Earlier, the Islanders batting dissipated once they came out in the hot afternoon sun. Three batters reached double figures with opener Malissa Howard (10), while number nine and eleven batters, Terez Parker made an unbeaten 18 while Melicia Clarke contributed ten. They were eventually bowled out for just 61 in 18.4 overs.

Player-of-the-match Neisha Ann Waisome claimed (3-10), and Vanessa Watts (2-15), while Chinelle Henry, Stafanie Taylor and Chedean Nation, all chipped in with a wicket each.

The final round will be played today. Jamaica face Trinidad and Tobago from 09:00hrs; Leeward Islands clash with the Windward Islands from 14:00hrs while Guyana take on Barbados from 19:00hrs.