KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):
Leeward Islands Women booked their spot in the final of this year’s T20 Blaze after recording a comfortable 31-run victory over Barbados Women in their top-of-the-table clash at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in St Vincent yesterday.
With both sides heading into the contest unbeaten after three matches with one round remaining, the winner was guaranteed a place in Friday’s final.
The Leewards did well to recover from 47 for six to get up to their eventual total of 118 for nine in their 20 overs.
They then produced a spirited bowling effort to limit Barbados to 87 for nine to keep their unbeaten streak alive.
Barbados would have been disappointed to have allowed their opponents to score so many runs after Naijanni Cumberbatch’s five-wicket haul had put them in complete control of the match.
Cumberbatch bowled opener Shawnisha Hector for six and also dismissed Reniece Boyce for 12, as well as Amanda Edwards, Davronique Maynard, and Kayzg Boyles for nought, to reduce them to 47 for six after seven overs.
However, Jahzara Claxton made 22, Tonya Martin scored 23, while Rozel Liburd finished unbeaten on 11, as the Leewards’ last four wickets added 71 runs.
Cumberbatch ended with the impressive figures of 5-15 and Shanika Bruce took 2-14.
Barbados Women got off to a disastrous start in their run chase when Trishan Holder was bowled by Hector without a run on the board.
Eboni Brathwaite and Cumberbatch added 23 for the second wicket, before both were dismissed in the space of three runs to see Barbados slip to 26 for three.
Captain Aaliyah Alleyne and Asabi Callender carried them to 51 for three before a middle-order collapse derailed their efforts.
Alleyne was bowled by Qiana Joseph for 15, Amanda Edwards had Callender stumped for 17 and also accounted for the wicket of Shakera Selman, while Joseph returned to snare the wicket of Shamilia Connell to reduce Barbados to 63 for seven in the 14th over.
Barbados never seriously threatened thereafter and eventually fell well short of their target.
Joseph (2-10), Hector (2-13) and Amanda Edwards (2-17) were the Leewards’ best bowlers.
In another game yesterday, Trinidad and Tobago Women bolstered their chances of making the final by dominating defending champions Guyana Women by eight wickets.
