(Photo via: Cricket West Indies Media)
Trinidad & Tobago were in a must win situation against 2nd placed Windward Islands, if they wanted to reach the final and defend their title. Barbados had all but officially booked their spot in the final, so the Trinis were anxious for the remaining spot.
T&T won the toss and elected to bowl first, they had one change to the squad as pacer Caneisha Isaac was rested in favour of Kamara Ragoobar. The Windwards started out slowly but looked set to get another 100+ score, as Swayline Williams and Stacy Ann Adams took on the divas bowling. Ramharack though started weaving her magic spin and trapped Adams in the 10th over for 12. Cordel Jack, the usually dependable batter for the Windwards, didn’t last long against Ramharack as she was caught for 7. Windwards now 33/2 in the 20th over. Williams persisted but she was next to go for 14 inclusive of 2 fours, falling to Felicia Walters. Despite the ticking over scoreboard, the wickets continued to fall. Ever dependable Captain Afy Fletcher couldn’t withstand the medium pace of Lee Ann Kirby who had her caught easily by Walters for 6. But the middle order pair of Juliana Nero and Roylin Cooper looked set to take their team to a defensible total. The pair looked comfortable in the middle, posting a 41 run partnership before Nero fell to Ragoobar for 25. Windwards 102/6. The wickets fell steadily after this as Cooper was next to go for 20, followed by Peters for 1, Joseph for 9, Crafton 4 and Turtin 2.
(Photo via: Cricket West Indies Media)
The Windward Islands all out for 121 in 47.2 overs. Kirby was the best T&T bowler with 3/17 from 10 overs. Ramharack and Ragoobar took 2 wickets each.
T&T had a shaky start, Reniece Boyce and Britney Cooper both fell by the time the score reached 25 in the 7th over. Opener Felicia Walters looked reminiscent of West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Walters dropped anchor as she did in the previous two matches and stayed the course of the Divas innings. She had an able and supportive partner in Stacy Ann King. They rotated the strike, ensuring T&T got the to the required target. Both batters ended with 5 fours. T&T reaching the 122 target comfortably in 35.5 overs. King and Walters finished the innings not out on 58 and 40 respectively.
The victory assured T&T a spot in the final to face Barbados and the chance to successfully defend the title they currently hold.
Stacy Ann King for her 58 not out was Player of the Match.
(Photo via: Cricket West Indies Media)
Barbados were already into the final but not officially as their last game against the Leeward Islands was still outstanding in the points calculation. The Bajan girls made sure to fix this quickly as they ran through the Leewards innings. Winning the toss, Barbados sent the Leewards in to bat first and Hayley Matthews ran riot with the ball through their innings. Saneldo Willett was the only Leeward player to reach double figures, she made 13. The rest of the team’s scores read like an international phone number, 2 9 9 9 0 0 1 0 0 4. Leewards all out for 65 in 27.2 overs. Hayley Matthews had figures of 6/16 from 7.2 overs. Shamilia Connell was next best with 2/12, Shanna Thompson and Deandra Dottin had 1 wicket each.
(Photo via: Cricket West Indies Media)
As if 6 wickets weren’t enough, Matthews returned to start with the bat, accounting for 43 of the 66 required for a Barbados victory. Reshelle Griffith provided 5, with Deandra Dottin adding 15 not out and Charlene Taitt with her on 1 not out. As Barbados raced to their target in 10.3 overs.
For her 6/16 and 43 runs, it was a no-brainer that Hayley Matthews was Player of the Match.
(Photo via: Cricket West Indies Media)
In the final match of the round robin stage, Jamaica and Guyana clashed in Park Hill. Guyana won the toss and sent the Jamaicans in to bat first. At this point, Jamaica was yet to earn a win in the 2017 tournament. Jamaica and West Indies Captain Stafanie Taylor was in major need of some runs for this tournament, as her total column was almost as dry as the Sahara Desert. This was the match where Taylor and Jamaica’s fortunes turned, but it was too little too late. Taylor pummeled the Guyanese bowling, carting 7 fours and a six on her way to an unbeaten 89. Tameka Sanford added 31 and Jodian Morgan 16, Jamaica posted 188 all out in exactly 50 overs. The first team to last the full quota of overs and to post the highest score of the 2017 tournament.
(Photo via: Shari John Photography)
Subrina Monroe took 6/24 from 8 overs, Tremayne Smartt and Akaze Thompson took 2 wickets each.
Smartt was the top scorer for Guyana with 13, Heema Singh 12 and June Ogle 11. The rest of the team were once again single digits. Chedean Nation snapped up 4/20 from 8.3 overs and Chinelle Henry 2/17 from 7 overs. As Guyana were bowled out for 76 in 30.3 overs.
Stafanie Taylor was Player of the Match.
(Photo via: Shari John Photography)
So the final is set, Sunday 30th April, it’s Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex. Can the T&T Divas successfully defend their title? Or will the start-studded Barbadian team flex its talents and take the title? Either way, we’re going to get good cricket, which will only benefit the future of Women’s cricket in the West Indies….
MaroonTraveller 