… Jamaica cruise to a 8-wicket win over Leewards

By Rajiv Bisnauth

BARBADOS completed a comprehensive 49-run win over Guyana in game five of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Women’s T20 tournament yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.Despite an unbeaten 43 from Shemaine Campbelle, the Guyanese batswomen were kept under constant pressure by the Barbadian bowlers in a chase that never really got underway, and eventually reached 91-5.
Earlier, skipper Shaquana Quintyne’s unbeaten half-century ensured Barbados recovered from the early setbacks to pose a decent total of 140-6 on a good batting strip.
Quintyne showed both power and precise placement in her 43-ball 62 that comprised two fours and two sixes. Her contribution was definitely the backbone of the innings after Guyana landed the early punches and weakened Barbados to 49-3 at the end of the powerplay.
Shamilia Connell, who remained unbeaten on 19, played her part at the back end of the innings, with an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 45, with Quintyne.
However, despite those early setbacks, the Barbadians were scoring at brisk pace, with Kycia Knight, the chief contributor during that six-over period, smashing four fours and a six in her 29.
Hayley Matthews (3) couldn’t cash in on the splendid batting track and chipped Tremayne Smartt to mid-on in the third over where Erva Giddings completed an easy catch at 13-1.
Giddings then struck twice, removing both Deandra Dottin (6) and Knight to stifle the scoring somewhat.
Playing the anchor role, Quintyne lost teammates Reshelle Griffith (1), Carlene Taitt, who was taken at the wicket off Kaysia Shultz for four and Aaliyah Alleyne (12), at 95-6.
But she and Connell then joined forces together and set the intimidating total.
In the daunting chase of 141, the Guyanese, who whipped the Leeward Islands by 55 runs in their opening game Friday evening, made a cautious start and scored just 17 runs in the first six overs with the dismissal of Melaine Henry, who was run-out for 10.
However, they never recovered from the slow start, and with all the Barbadian bowlers maintaining a decent line and length, the required run rate soared.
The Guyanese then dipped into further trouble with the dismissals of Latoya Smith (13), Lashuna Toussaint (0), Smartt (5) and Heema Singh (1). Dottin claimed two of those wickets while Matthews and Tiffany Thorpe were the other successful bowlers.
Earlier Jamaica made light work of their Leeward Islands opponents, whipping the Islanders by eight wickets.
Jamaica bowlers put up an extraordinary effort in restricting the Islanders to 61-9. Left-arm spinner Shanel Daley was the live-wire with the ball, claiming 5-11 off her four overs.
Jenisen Richards (16) and Amanda Edwards (16 not out) were the Islanders highest run-getters while the remaining batters failed to provide the sort of momentum the team needed after skipper Shawnisha Hector won the toss and decided to bat.
The Leewards, after a slow start were forced to play within their limitations throughout their innings as Daley undermined her opponents to earn the Player-of-the-Match award.
The remaining bowlers also kept the run rate in check and didn’t let the Islanders breathe much, with Chedean Nation and Roshana Outar claiming 1-9 and 1-13 respectively. Vanessa Watts and Chinelle Henry were also economical as their spells went for eight and 18 runs respectively.
Jamaica then wiped out the target in 5.2 overs, with Jodian Morgan (19) and Natasha McLean (2) being the batters who perished.
Stafanie Taylor was again in great touch, smashing an unbeaten 18-ball 35, inclusive of seven boundaries.
The tournament continues tomorrow with three more matches.