By Samuel Peters
The Leeward Islands Stormers have etched their names into Caribbean cricket history, capturing their first-ever senior women’s cricket title with a six-run victory over Barbados via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method in Friday night’s CWI T20 Blaze final at Arnos Vale Cricket Stadium.
The triumph capped off a remarkable unbeaten campaign for the Stormers, who dominated the tournament from start to finish to claim the perfect season.
Tournament MVP Shawnisha Hector once again proved to be the difference-maker, producing a scintillating knock of 58 from 44 balls after the Stormers were asked to bat first. The explosive opener rode her luck after being dropped three times, but batted like a woman possessed, registering her second half-century of the competition to anchor her side to a competitive total of 111 for six from their allotted 20 overs.
Barbados’ bowlers fought valiantly to restrict the Stormers, with pace duo Shamilia Connell and Aaliyah Alleyne claiming two wickets apiece. However, they were unable to prevent Hector from taking the game away from them during crucial partnerships that kept the scoreboard ticking.
In reply, Barbados made a spirited effort to chase down the target but found themselves constantly behind the required rate against disciplined Stormers bowling. The visitors had reached 79-5 from 16 overs when the heavens opened, bringing an early end to the contest.
Under the DLS calculations, Barbados needed to be at 86 runs at the 16-over mark to stay ahead of the par score, but after they fell seven runs short of the required total, the match officials declared the Stormers victorious, sparking scenes of unbridled joy among the Leeward Islands contingent.
The Stormers’ bowlers had done their job perfectly, maintaining pressure throughout the Barbados innings and never allowing the opposition to get ahead of the rate despite the rain-shortened target.
The victory represents a watershed moment for Leeward Islands women’s cricket. Never before had the Stormers reached a senior women’s cricket final, let alone claimed the title, so to achieve the feat with a perfect record makes the achievement all the more remarkable.
Under the leadership of captain Amanda Edwards, who herself finished as the tournament’s fourth-highest run scorer with 95 runs, the Stormers displayed remarkable consistency and resilience throughout the competition. Their ability to win close matches, overcome early setbacks, and perform under pressure defined their campaign.
The team’s depth was evident throughout the tournament, with multiple players contributing at crucial moments. Reniece Boyce finished third in the run-scoring charts with126 runs, while Davronique Maynard’s nine wickets placed her joint-third among the leading wicket-takers.
There will be little time for celebration, however, as the Stormers must quickly shift their focus to the CWI Regional Super 50 competition, which commences on Monday. In a twist of fate, their opening match will be a rematch against the same Barbados side they just defeated in the T20 Blaze final.
The 50-over format will present a different challenge, but if the Stormers can carry the momentum and confidence from their T20 triumph, they will fancy their chances of making an impact in the longer format as well.
For now, though, the Leeward Islands Stormers can bask in the glory of a historic achievement – their first senior women’s cricket title, earned through an unbeaten campaign that will be remembered for years to come.
