KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):
The Leeward Islands Women maintained their unbeaten streak in the T20 Blaze with a regulation seven-wicket victory over Windward Islands Women via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in the late game on Wednesday, their fifth in as many matches.
Already assured of a place in the final, Leeward Islands wasted little time in reducing their opponents to a paltry 69 for nine in 20 overs.
The rain then reduced the Leewards’ innings to 14 overs, but they still romped to their revised target of 59 in 8.4 overs for the loss of just three wickets.
Unbroken partnership
They were led by Jahzara Claxton’s boundary-studded, unbeaten 23 off 15 balls containing three fours and one six and Reniece Boyce, who scored a patient, unbeaten 14 off 24 balls.
The two shared an unbroken partnership of 35 for the fourth wicket following the early losses of Qiana Joseph, Shawnisha Hector, and captain Amanda Edwards, which saw them slip to 24 for three.
Earlier, Hector produced a sterling bowling performance, taking three wickets for five runs in four overs, which helped to stifle the Windward Islands.
Hector bowled opener Amiah Gilbert for a duck and then trapped captain Zaida James lbw three balls later, also for a duck to leave the score two for one.
Claxton then claimed the wickets of Earnisha Fontaine for one, Afy Fletcher without scoring, and Carena Noel for one to see the Windwards collapse to 11 for five in the fourth over.
Abini St Jean, who topscored with 16 and Holly Charles, who made 15, led a lower-order fightback that carried their team past the 50-run mark.
Claxton ended with 3-20 from her three overs, while Davronique Maynard claimed 2-15.
The Leeward Islands will meet Barbados Women in Friday’s final.
