… Jamaica oust Windwards by 56 runs

By Rajiv Bisnauth

LED by a superb all-round performance from Player-of-the-Match Hayley Matthews; Barbados easily disposed of Trinidad and Tobago in the opening round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Women’s T20 tournament yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.Matthews’ 20-ball 27 and Kycia Knight 23 off 24 balls lifted Barbados to 106-8, a total that was defended spiritedly in the field to keep the Trinidadians 32 runs short.
Leading the way almost single-handedly was the 18-year-old Matthews, whose useful innings and decisive bowling spell of 4-17 during the back end of the Trinidadians’ chase completely shifted the momentum.
Both Matthews and Knight, with 52 T20s together, gave Barbados the perfect flurry at the start after they were inserted to bat first, with an opening partnership of 52 off 39 balls.
The key feature of this alliance was both players’ ability to rotate the strike, with Matthews at her best, smashing five boundaries during her stay.
However, they were separated six runs apart off the bowling of Lee Ann Kerby (2-19) and Anisa Mohamed (2-21) respectively.
Deandra Dottin and Shaquana Quintyne then injected 17 for the third wicket, and from a position of 74-2 in 11.2 overs, Barbados were stemmed by a slew of wickets, including Dottin (13) and Quintyne (13), and managed to score just 31 runs from the remaining overs to end on a low note, but they had enough on the board.
Karishma Ramharack and Shenelle Lord were the other two successful bowlers with a wicket apiece.
The Trinidadians then stumbled from the outset, and were unable to forge any meaningful partnerships, with only Reniece Boyce (14), Rachael Vincent (13) and Mohamed (13), managing double digits.
The Barbadians showed perfect bowling skills, led by the off-spinner, Matthews. Keila Elliot (2-24), Shamilia Connell (1-6) and Dottin (1-24), were equally impressive.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Taylor cracked a brilliant half-century first-up as Jamaica crushed Windward Islands by 56 runs.
The Jamaicans did it in style by rattling up 148-3 in their 20 overs by riding on Taylor’s 62 and then reducing their opponents to 92-5.
Taylor first put on 18 for the first wicket with Jodian Morgan, who made 15 with three boundaries when she was bowled by Akeira Peters.
At the fall of Morgan’s wicket, the Windwards captain driving in front of the wicket with power and panache, then got involved in a fine partnership of 57 for the second wicket with Natasha McLean, who was eventually bowled by Afy Fletcher for 21.
The innings was given another impetus by the arrival of Chedean Nation. The pair added 77 for the third wicket, with Taylor registering her fifty off 41 balls in the process.
The pair took full advantage of the loose bowling attack, with Taylor reaching the boundary on six occasions and beyond the ropes twice before she was dismissed off Qiana Joseph while Nation hit past the ropes three times in her unbeaten 29.
During the run chase, Jamaicans bowled with purpose and also fielded brilliantly, in total contrast to the dismal show put up by their rivals, to emerge deserving winners.
The Islanders found scoring difficult on a slow pitch, and only Juliana Nero (23), Fletcher (19), Joseph (16 not out) and Stacy Ann Adams (12), provided some fight, but their efforts were not enough.
Roshana Outar was the pick of the bowlers, with 2-16 while Taylor, Vanessa Watts and Chinelle Henry all claimed a wicket to their credit.
The tournament continues today with three more matches.