Jamaica Women on course for regional double

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

A destructive spell from pacer Chinelle Henry set it up, and steady batting led by her international teammate Rashada Williams formalised a six-wicket win for Jamaica Women against Barbados Women in the West Indies Women’s Twenty20 Blaze on Thursday in St Kitts.

Williams made 21 that set the foundation for a successful run chase for the Jamaicans after they dismissed the Barbadians for 63 in 17.3 overs in the second match of the third round at Warner Park, where all the matches are being played.

No other Jamaican batsman reached 20, but it did not matter, and they completed their third successive win to keep them on course to be double crown champions, a feat the Barbados Women had achieved previously.

Earlier, Henry grabbed a flattering four for nine from 3.3 overs, and her captain Stafanie Taylor, the former West Indies Women’s captain, supported with two for nine from three overs, to demolish the Barbados batting.

Nai-Janni Cumberbatch led the way with 25 for the Barbadians, but no other batsman reached 20.

FOUR-RUN WIN

In the night cap match, a stunning hat-trick from pacer Jahzara Claxton in the final over of the match enabled Leeward Islands to collect a four-run win against Guyana Women.

Claxton bowled West Indies Under-19 Women’s captain Ashmini Munisar for one, as well as Plaffianna Millington and Trisha Hardat for first-ball ducks with the last three balls of the match to end with three for 13 from three overs, and the Guyanese failed to successfully chase 105 to win.

Guyana Women needed eight off the last over after West Indies Women’s batsman Shabika Gajnabi, opening the batting, hit the top score of 44, but no one else got 20, and they lost their last seven wickets for 14 inside the last five overs of the chase.

Similarly, Divya Saxena anchored Leewards to 104 for nine off 20 overs after they were put in to bat.

In the first match, Djenaba James hit the top score of 43, and Trinidad & Tobago Women held their nerve to complete a two-wicket win against Windward Islands Women.

James defied a spell of three for 10 in four overs from international spinner Zaida James and led Trinidad and Tobago in a successful run chase of 82.

Shalini Samaroo and international spinner Karishma Ramharack shared five wickets to demolish the Windwards for 81 in their 20 overs after they were put in to bat.