SAINT GEORGE, St. Vincent, (CMC)– The WICB Women’s T20 Championship ignited with commanding performances on home soil and a spectacular individual century as St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada opened their campaigns with decisive victories here on Sunday.
In the tournament’s opening match, the host nation, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, secured a confident six-wicket win over St. Lucia.
Asked to bat first, St. Lucia posted 117 for 9 from their 20 overs, with Ashlene Edwards providing the backbone of the innings with a top score of 36.
Namiah Marcellin contributed 21, but her stay was ended by the incisive bowling of Tracy Byran, who finished with excellent figures of 3 for 19.
The Vincentian reply was anchored by a superb match-winning knock from West Indies batter Jannillea Glasgow.
Her fluent 60 steered the chase with authority, ably supported by Shannel Mackie’s composed, unbeaten 26.
The hosts reached their target of 118 with eight balls to spare, finishing on 118 for 4 in 18.4 overs to the delight of the local supporters.
The day’s second game, however, was utterly dominated by one player: Grenada’s veteran West Indies all-rounder Afy Fletcher.
After Grenada found themselves in a spot of trouble at 26 for 2 in the sixth over, Fletcher produced a breathtaking display of power-hitting.
She blasted a magnificent 116 from just 66 deliveries, an innings punctuated by 14 ferocious fours and four towering sixes, single-handedly propelling her side to a formidable 182 for 4.
Shell-shocked, Dominica had no answer with the bat. Their innings never gained momentum, and they were bundled out for a meagre 68, handing Grenada a colossal 114-run victory.
The action continues at Arnos Vale Stadium on Monday, with the hosts looking to build on their winning start against Dominica and Grenada, riding a wave of momentum following their explosive entrance into the championship, when they face St. Lucia.