An unbeaten half-century from Kysia Knight ensured Barbados Women an eight-wicket win over Jamaica Women and in the process, retain the CG Insurance Super50 Cup.
In yesterday’s final at the National Stadium, Providence, rain forced the contest to be reduced to a 26-over-a-side fixture where Jamaica posting 118 for eight in their allotment. The defending champions then reached 120 in 23.4 overs while losing two wickets along the way.
Knight’s unbeaten 60 came from 75 balls and featured seven boundaries. The left-handed opener added 56 for the opening partnership with Hayley Matthews. Matthews, the newly appointed West Indies women captain, made a 31-ball 22 before being bowled by Chitra Howell.
Knight continued her progress and shared a second wicket union of 41 with her twin sister, Kyshona, who made 14 from 26 balls prior to being trapped leg before wicket to Chinelle Henry.
Aaliyah Alleyne then joined Knight to get their side over the line with 12 not out from 10 balls. Earlier, Jamaica’s innings centered on their captain, Stafanie Taylor, who top scored with 44 from 57 balls. The right hander struck five boundaries before being run out.
Taylor shared a third-wicket partnership of 34 with Keneshia Ferron (11) and a 30-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Natasha McLean (19) before both McLean and Ferron were dismissed by Matthews (2-16).
Jodi-Ann Morgan was the only other batter to reach double figures with 13 and extras accounted for 15. Alleyne bagged 2-19 while Aaliyah Williams returned 1-25.
Matthews ended the tournament as the leading run-getter with 187 runs in four innings. She crossed 50 on two occasions with a best of 99. The Bajan twin sisters, Kycia (164 runs) and Kyshona (140 runs) were the only other batters with over 100 runs in the tournament.
Jamaica’s opening bowlers, Henry and Vanessa Watts both ended with nine wickets while Alleyne and Matthews finished with eight wickets each.