Guyana marked their first victory of the Cricket West Indies Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 with a 31-run win over the Leeward Islands in the third round at Enmore Community Centre Ground yesterday.
Under splendid sunshine, the Leewards won the toss and sent the hosts into bat who then posted 240-9 in their 50 overs. The hosts then limited the Leewards to 109 all out in 34.5 overs.
Guyana’s batting centred around teenage sensation, Shabika Gajnabi who smashed 78 from 109 balls. Her gutsy innings consisted of seven pulsating boundaries including a muscled pull shot through the mid-wicket boundary that brought up her half century from exactly 50 deliveries.
Gajnabi, who has been a regular visitor to West Indies training camps solidified the middle overs by sharing in a 42-run partnership with vice-captain, Akaze Thompson who supported with 10 before she was trapped leg before wicket to Saneldo Willett.
The Berbician had also forged a third-wicket partnership of 49 with Mandy Mangru before she was bowled by Melicia Clarke.
Mangru batted with patience, soaking up 135 balls in her innings of 35 that saw her being dropped on 29. She struck four boundaries.
Mangru had earlier gotten Guyana off to a blinder, when she along with Sheneta Grimmond shared a 72-run stand for the first wicket.
Grimmond pounded six fours including two consecutively through mid-wicket off of Tynetta McKay before being dismissed on 37.
Willett finished with 3-30 including the wickets of Melanie Henry (02) and Kaysia Schultz (05) while Clarke finished with 2-22 as their sloppy bowling facilitated 44 extras.
Mangru returned with the ball to snatch 4-22 with her off-spin while her opening partner and fellow spinner, Grimmond bagged 2-25. Akaze Thompson supported with 2-26 as only Malissa Howard (21) and Amanda Edwards (20) looked comfortable at the crease to extend their win-less run.
