Mon Jan 19 ’26 by KRISSANIA YOUNGW
Leeward side 118 for nine (Joseph 27, Martin 23, Cumberbatch 5-15) beating Barbados 87 for nine (Callender 17, Alleyne 15, Joseph 2-10) with 31 runs
Monday’s top match in Cricket West Indies’ Women’s T20 Blaze saw the Leeward Islands cruise to a 31-run win over Barbados at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
However, the day’s proceedings did not start too promisingly for the Leeward Islands as they lost most of their batting inside seven overs and were restricted to 47 for 6. Naijanni Cumberbatch was the destroyer-in-chief for Barbados.
The off-spinner was Leeward’s top scorer this campaign, dismissing Amanda Edwards (12), Shawnisha Hector (6) and Reniece Boyce for a duck – on his way to figures of 5 for 15.
Despite losing wickets, the Leeward Islands kept the scoreboard ticking. Opener Qiana Joseph finally got to the points this season, hitting two sixes and three fours before falling for a 17-ball 27 top score.
Tonya Martin (23) then joined all-rounder Jahzara Claxton (22) at the crease, and the pair shared a 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Claxton put on a further 16 crucial runs with Rozel Liburd (11*) to help the Leeward sides claw their way to the competition’s highest total of 118 for 9.
Barbados also lost a clutch of wickets early in their chase, falling to 26 for 3 inside 5 overs. Yet a 25-run fourth-wicket stand between Asabi Callender (17) and Aaliyah Alleyne was the only battle they could put up. The fight ended when Joseph (2/10) returned to bowl the last for 15.
Barbados would eventually lose 5 wickets for 36 runs in the second half of the innings, being restricted to 87 for 9. There were also two wickets apiece for Shawnisha Hector (2/13) and Amanda Edwards (2/17).
#CaribbeanCricket.com #independent #voice #West #Indian #cricket