Barbados retained the Cricket West Indies Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 title with a 28-run win over Trinidad and Tobago in the fifth round at Enmore Community Centre, East Coast Demerara.
Barbados marched to their fifth consecutive win by posting 242-7 from their 50 overs after being sent in to bat before returning to dismiss Trinidad for 214 in 47.5 overs.
The champions were stunned early on with their captain, Hayley Matthews and her opening partner, Danielle Small being bowled without a run on the board.
But they recovered well with twins, Kycia and Kyshona Knight putting on a 133-run stand for the third wicket. Kycia Knight notched up her third half century of the tournament before holing out to Leann Kirby at long on for 77 from 88 balls. Her innings was decorated with eight boundaries including a pull towards mid-wicket off of Kirby to bring up the 50 partnership between the sisters as Barbados reached 75-2 after 25 overs.
Kyshona Knight, mis-stumped on 42, went on to stroke a patient 56, supporting her sister in her 136-ball stay at the crease. Her innings that was highlighted by strike rotation included five boundaries.
However, it was Deandra Dottin who came in and bullied the opposition, taking a liking to off-spinner, Anisa Mohammed whom she dispatched for three of her six sixes into mid-wicket. She also struck a six to bring up her third half century of the tournament.
Dottin made use of being dropped on 51 and 61, racing to 73 from 43 balls with three fours before Mohammed got her revenge and her wicket.
Trinidad clawed their way back into the contest with off-spinner, Karishma Ramharack taking two quick wickets to eventually end with 4-37 and a tournament haul of 13 scalps.
Trinidad’s chase, despite being slow, saw the openers putting on an even 50 until a brilliant return catch by Matthews sent Rachel Vincent back for 10.
Barbados kept the stranglehold on Trinidad who kept the scoreboard ticking over through Stacy-Ann King (38) Felicia Walters (27) and Britney Cooper (23).
When the equation reached 71 from the last 10 overs, Melissa Aguilleira looked to bring it home with a 31-ball 32 with four boundaries but met her demise when she stepped across a Dottin delivery and swiped only to get a top edge into the hands of Matthews at point.
Dottin struck three times in the 44th over to stun Trinidad and leave all too much for vice-captain, Reniece Boyce to do. The 21-year-old muscled the ball to all parts of the ground and ran well between the wickets, bringing the equation down to 36 from 24 balls with one wicket in hand but was unable to see her side over the line as she became Dottin’s sixth victim on 39 with four boundaries.
After the match, player of the match, Dottin said she knew the responsibility that rested on her shoulders and she backed herself with both bat and ball to go out there and get the job done. Her captain, Matthews, said that the win came on the backs of a consistent performance from the entire team and that they would use this momentum heading into the T20 Blaze with one intention, to win.
