An unbeaten half-century and a three-wicket haul from skipper Hayley Matthews coupled with four wickets from Aaliyah Alleyne gave Barbados an easy victory (Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method) over Trinidad and Tobago to earn them a spot in the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup.
The match, played yesterday, was reduced to 33-overs per side after rain prevented an on time start. Barbados’ bowlers were good but fed the Trinidad and Tobago runs tally with a mind-blowing 53 extras, which allowed them to cross 100 runs. Lee-Ann Kirby and Leandra Ramdeen were the only batters to reach double figures. The veteran Kirby struck one four and a six on her way to 41 off 74 balls while Ramdeen had 10 off 39 balls.
Aaliyah Alleyne was destructive. After the first rain break as she uprooted the stumps of Reneice Boyce, Rachel Vincent and Britney Cooper in quick succession. Trinidad and Tobago managed to reach 133 all out in 31.2 overs. Alleyne finished with figures of 7-0-31-4 followed by Hayley Matthews with 7-1-20-3.
In their turn at the crease, it was all smooth sailing for Barbados as Kycia Knight and Matthews opened the batting. The pair navigated the opening spin attack from T&T with Anisa Mohammed and Karishma Ramharack operating from either end. Kycia was the first and only wicket to fall when she was caught for 32 off 50 balls which included four boundaries.
Matthews was dropped by Boyce behind the stumps and that was the turning point of the match with the score on 67/1. Kyshona Knight entered after the dismissal of her twin sister and continued her fruitful form, smashing seven boundaries and a six as she took on the Trinidad and Tobago bowling. The calm Matthews completed her second half-century of the tournament, striking the winning run to send her team into the final, she finished on 50 from 86 balls inclusive of two fours. Barbados reached 137-1 in 30.1 overs. Not out with Matthews was Kyshona Knight on 49 off 45 balls.
The winning captain Matthews was pleased with her team’s performance. She said:
“We were looking to restrict Trinidad to a low total, disappointed with the number of extras we bowled but at the same time I think our batters did a fantastic job to get the runs. Kycia getting the innings going with me then Kyshona playing a quickfire 49 is what we really want to see, the twins have been great this tournament, one or the other always getting runs.” Matthews added: “Aaliyah has been great with the new ball in the absence of Shamilia Connell and it was really great to see her attacking the stumps today. Whichever team we play in the final, have very dangerous players, so we know we just have to go out there and play our best cricket against whoever is the other team in the final.” (West Indies News).
