BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Jamaica Women followed up a dominant batting performance led by the West Indies Women’s duo of Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry with sharp fielding and stunned double crown defending champions Barbados Women with a 200-run win when the Cricket West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup opened yesterday in St Kitts.
The Jamaicans effected three run outs and a stumping in the field, and the Barbadians were bowled out for 89 in 37.4 overs in their pursuit of 289 to win in the first round match at Warner Park.
Barbados Women, missing stalwarts such as West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews and retired West Indies Women’s all-rounder Deandra Dottin, were 27 for one at the close of the first Power Play, but they were 70 for six at the halfway stage and never recovered.
NaiJanni Cumberbatch led the way with 22, but no other batsman reached 20, with Taylor capping a fine all-round performance with two for 16 from 6.4 overs bowling her off-spin, and Vannessa Watts taking two for 24 from her allotted 10 overs.
Earlier, Taylor hit 11 fours and one six in the top score 97
from 100 balls, and Henry supported with 93 from 69 balls that included nine fours and four sixes before the Jamaicans were bowled out for 289 in 46.5 overs, after they won the toss and chose to bat.
Jamaica Women wobbling on 43 for three in the 13th over, but Taylor put on successive stands of 82 with another West Indies Women’s international Natasha McLean for the fourth wicket, and Henry to beef up her side’s total.
McLean was caught and bowled by Allison Gordon for 24 in the 24th over after helping take the Jamaicans past 100, Taylor was caught behind off Keila Elliott in the 38th over after helping them past 200, and Henry was bowled by Shanika Bruce in the 44th over just when it looked like she may lead them past 300.
Aaliyah Alleyne was the pick of the Barbados bowlers with three for 24 from 8.5 overs.
Elsewhere, a half-century from Jannillea Glasgow led a rearguard for Windward Islands Women and they clinched a two-wicket win against Trinidad & Tobago Women in a nail-biting finish.
Glasgow hit seven fours in the top score of 62 from 110 balls and shared two crucial stands with Nerissa Crafton and Pearl Etienne to revive the Windwards, and they successfully chased 186 for victory at the Conaree Cricket Centre.
Windwards were 53 for five in the 15th over, but Glasgow added 86 for the sixth wicket with Crafton and put on 43 for the seventh wicket with Etienne that put their side firmly back on course for victory with six balls remaining.
Crafton made 45, Etienne scored 23, and opener Malika Edward added 22 for the Windwards.
Similarly, T&T required a face-saving 59 off 40 balls that included eighth fours and one six from Lee Ann Kirby to reach a respectable 185 all out in 48.2 overs after they chose to bat.
West Indies Women’s leg-spinner Afy Fletcher was the most successful Windwards bowler taking three for 40 from 10 overs.
And, a destructive spell from Plaffianna Millington enabled Guyana Women to grab a 55-run win against hosts Leeward Islands Women.
Millington ended with a flattering four for 10 from 9.5 overs, and Nyia Latchman supported with three for 25 from eight overs, and the Leewards were bowled out for 84 in 36.5 overs in their pursuit of 140 at the St Paul’s Sports Complex.
The Guyanese, led by 38 from Realeanna Grimmond and 20 from Shabika Gajnabi, were earlier bowled out for 139 in 37 overs after they were put in to bat.
Shawnisha Hector was the pick of Leewards bowlers with three for nine from seven overs, and Rozel Liburd took three for 21 from nine overs.
The tournament continues tomorrow when Leeward face Jamaica at Conaree, Guyana meet Windwards at Warner Park, and T&T battle Barbados at St Paul’s.