BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – THE Guyana Amazon Warriors Women brought an end to three-time defending champions Barbados Tridents Women’s reign in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League, defeating them by seven wickets in the Eliminator at Kensington Oval on Wednesday.
In a match that was delayed by almost two hours due to heavy showers and eventually reduced to an eight over contest, the Tridents recovered from a horrible start to post a competitive 69 for four after being sent in to bat.
Tazmin Brits then smashed an unbeaten 35 off 23 balls to guide the Amazon Warriors to 75 for three in 7.2 overs and a spot in Thursday’s final against the Trinbago Knight Riders Women.
The Amazon Warriors will be chasing their first WCPL title, having lost to the Tridents in the 2023 and 2025 finals, while the Knight Riders, who won the inaugural tournament in 2022. will be seeking their second championship.
The Tridents would have been hoping for a speedy start in the shortened match, but an out-of-sorts Qiana Joseph struggled to get the ball away.
She scored just three runs in 13 deliveries before the Tridents took the decision to retire her out at the end of the third over with just 16 runs on the board.
Kiran Navgire was stumped off the bowling of Erin Burns with the next delivery, but captain Hayley Matthews and Maddy Green took 18 runs off the fifth over bowled by Sheneta Grimmond to help boost their run rate.
Matthews was run out for 22 attempting a suicidal second run at the start of the sixth over, but Green kept the momentum going by blasting an unbeaten 30 off 16 balls, inclusive of three fours and one six.
The Amazon Warriors didn’t get off to the best of starts either, losing Eboni Brathwaite to the third ball of the run chase after she mishit a full toss from Shawnisha Hector into the hands of Harleen Deol at mid-off.
However, Brits found a reliable partner in Shemaine Campbelle, with the pair adding 51 runs in 27 balls to put their side in the ascendancy.
They took 14 runs off the second over bowled by Matthews and 12 runs off Afy Fletcher’s ensuing over to motor to 32 for one after three overs.
Suzie Bates was hit for a six and four in the following over that leaked 14 runs, but Joseph broke the partnership by having Campbelle caught behind for 22 off 12 balls, to leave the score 54 for two at the end of five overs.
Brits, who was named Player-of-the-Match, took charge thereafter, keeping the score ticking over to bring the equation down to one run off the final over.
Nadine de Klerk was bowled off the first ball by Suzie Bates, but captain Chloe Tryon finished the match off in style by smashing the next delivery over long off for six.