By Marlon Munroe
An invaluable half-century by Britney Cooper helped Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) win by one wicket in a cliffhanger against Barbados in the semi-final of the WICB Senior Women’s Challenge 50-over tournament at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground yesterday.
The consistent Cooper, along with an injured Alisa Mohammed, were the chief architects of T&T’s final score of 181-9 from 48.4 overs after Barbados had earlier made 178 all out from 49.4 overs. In a game where the momentum constantly alternated, it took T&T’s number 11 batter Jerveena Pulooksingh to score the winning run when she glided a delivery from Shakira Selman to fine leg for four.
This win means that T&T will contest the final against defending champions Jamaica, the other unbeaten team in the tournament today at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground. Jamaica comprehensively beat St. Vincent and the Grenadines by six wickets after they were set 54 to win in the other semi-final match over at the Everest Cricket Club (ECC).
Initially, T&T mounted a shaky response and were reeling at 38-3 but a resilient 55-run partnership coupled with aggressive running between Cooper and Stacy-Ann King put T&T back into the game. Indecisive running at the start of the innings, a feature that was not present at any other time in the series, resulted in the run out of the classy Amanda Samaroo for 11 when the score was 33, thanks to the many wides gifted to them by the Barbados bowlers.
Devika Singh was bowled by fast medium pacer Pamela Lavine for nine (38-2) and then Gaitri Seetahal was trapped lbw for one by Tiffany Thorpe (38-3). Subsequently, T&T started applying the pressure on the Barbadian fielders when Cooper and King turned singles in doubles whilst hitting the occasional boundary.
When Barbados’ captain Danielle Small injected spin bowlers Charlene Taitt and Shaquana Quintyne, Cooper continued playing freely whilst King struggled until she was bowled for 23 (1×4) in the 27th over. Tens runs later T&T and West Indies captain Marissa Aguillera (5) was caught by Selman at cover attempting a cut shot off the bowling of Quintyne (103-5).
When the score was 104-5 the energetic Kirbyina Alexander was bowled by Taitt for nought (104-6) in the 31st over.
Mohammed, who was suffering from cramps in her legs, joined Cooper and shortly after she brought up her 50 from 88 balls which had two boundaries.
The running again became erratic in T&T’s effort to score quick runs and Cooper was run out attempting a suicidal second run against to leave T&T precariously poised at 153-7 at a time when Barbados had seized control of the game again. West Indies player Anisa Mohammed fell short of her ground and was run out for one to leave T&T at 155-8.
Alisa continued, with the services of a runner, to tick the scoreboard over and then Whitney Cudjoe was bowled leaving T&T to get two more runs. After some nervous moments Selman strayed on middle and leg stumps and Pulooksingh tickled it to fine leg for four.
Quintyne finished with two wickets while Taitt, Thorpe and Lavine finished with one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Barbados won the toss and batted and Lavinee, 45 and Deandra Dottin (39) were the top scorers. There were small partnerships and eventually Selman was left not out on 15.
King was the pick of the T&T bowlers with 3-28 (10) whilst Alexander grabbed figures of 3-31 (9.4) and Anisa 2-23 (10).
In the Jamaica match Karla Cohen and Peta-Gaye Hanson were among the wickets again when they both had figures of 3-8 and Abbie-Gaye Hendricks took two wickets for 12 runs against St. Vincent. Jamaica’s captain Herma Nathan-Dawes and Jodian Morgan made 10 runs each.