Women’s T20 Blaze: Defending champs Jamaica off to winning start

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):

Jamaica Women began their title defence in positive fashion by brushing off the Windward Islands Women by seven wickets in the Women’s T20 Blaze here on Thursday.

The victory was set up by outstanding bowling by Jamaica’s trio of Chedean Nation, Nicole Campbell and Vanessa Watts, with each claiming three wickets to restrict the Windward Islands to 85 in 18.3 overs after they elected to bat first at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Afy Fletcher, who scored a fighting 32 from 23 balls, was the lone batter to offer any form of resistance in an otherwise disappointing display by the Windward Islands.

Thanks to the efforts of Nation (3-7), Campbell (3-13) and Watts (3-18), the Windward Islands suffered a dramatic middle order collapse that saw them lose their last seven wickets for 37 runs.

With the score 48 for three, Nation dismissed Zaida James for three, Campbell trapped Jannillea Glasgow leg before wicket for a duck, before Nation accounted for Fletcher’s wicket with the very next ball to reduce the Windward Islands to 51 for six.

It took Carena Noel’s knock of 15 to get the Windward Islands up to their total with Campbell and Watts polishing off the tail.

Jamaica Women’s captain Rashada Williams then struck an unbeaten 41 off 49 balls at the top of the order to guide her team to 86 for three off 15.2 overs.

Williams, along with Chinelle Henry, who scored 26 off 22 balls, added 41 runs for the third wicket to carry their side within victory, before Henry lost her wicket with just two runs required.