Joseph’s cameo carries Leeward Islands Women past Jamaica

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):

WEST INDIES opener Qiana Joseph hammered a blistering, unbeaten 43 from 19 balls to power the Leeward Islands to a thrilling eight-wicket win over defending champions Jamaica Women via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in the Women’s T20 Blaze yesterday.

In a match that was reduced to five overs per side due to heavy showers at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, Jamaica posted 48 for two after being sent in to bat.

Chinelle Henry led the way with an unbeaten 29 from 18 balls, and Chedean Nation finished on 11 not out to help their side recover after losing two wickets in the day’s first over.

The Leeward Islands also encountered struggles early in their chase, losing Shawnisha Hector and Reniece Boyce in the second over of the innings to leave the score 11 for two.

However, Joseph smashed three sixes and three fours, and together with captain Amanda Edwards, shared an unbroken 41-run partnership as the Leeward Islands finished on 52 for two with one ball to spare.

Later in the day, the Windward Islands Women snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Trinidad and Tobago Women in an enthralling encounter at Arnos Vale.

Carena Noel scored a patient 25 and Earnisha Fontaine made an invaluable, unbeaten 11, as the Windward Islands overhauled T&T’s 72 for eight, finishing on 73 for seven in 18.2 overs.

Noel and Fontaine, the only two double digit contributors for the Windward Islands, added 46 crucial runs for the seventh wicket after they seemed all but defeated at 24 for six in the eighth over.

Neither batter was in a hurry, with Noel facing 37 balls and striking just one boundary, while Fontaine failed to find the boundary in any of the 30 balls she faced.

T&T Women didn’t do themselves any favours either, with the 15 extras being the second highest contributor to their opponent’s total.

By the time Noel was caught behind off the bowling of Anisa Mohammed, the writing was already on the wall with the Windward Islands requiring just three runs for victory.

Mohammed was T&T’s best bowler with 3-12, while Steffie Soogrim took 2-13.

Earlier, T&T Women struggled from the get-go after being sent in to bat.

They were undermined by pacer Selena Ross and spinners Zaida James and Afy Fletcher, who took two wickets apiece.

From a position of 46 for three, T&T Women lost their next five wickets for 26 runs in the space of six overs

Britney Cooper offered the only form of resistance, scoring an unbeaten 20 from 46 balls.