Grimmond, Gajnabi bat Guyana to second place on points table

A valiant 81-run partnership between Realeanna Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi has pulled Guyana’s senior women’s cricket team out of proverbial hot water on Monday afternoon, and has led them to a 7-wicket win against the Windward Islands Women in the CG United Super50 Cup tournament.
By virtue of the victory, Guyana has ascended the points table to now occupy second place, being a mere point behind Trinidad and Tobago’s women.
In the game against the Windward Islands, played at the Conaree Sports Club in St. Kitts & Nevis, Guyana won the toss and opted to bowl first. They weeded out the Windward Islands’ batters for 97 runs; and chasing that figure to win, Realeanna Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi dug deep for a match-winning performance with the bat, after Guyana had experienced a bit of Déjà vu, being reduced to 20-3 after both openers and Captain Shemaine Campbelle had been sent back to the dugout early.

Grimmond, who ended her stint at the crease unbeaten and just two runs shy of a second half-century in the tournament, produced an innings of 48 runs off 71 balls embellished with 7 boundaries. Gajnabi, who also finished unbeaten, slammed 32 runs off 56 balls, taking Guyana to their target in 25 overs.
Despite the dominance of the Guyanese pair, Selena Ross’s outstanding spell claimed 2 wickets for 17 runs from 5 overs.
Plaffiana Millington, Cherry- Ann Fraser and Ashmini Munisar were all again outstanding earlier in the game, having reduced the Windward Islands to 59-8 before their tail-enders showed some resistance to the Guyanese bowling.
Abini St. Jean wielded her bat in the twilight of the innings to hit two boundaries in her 17 off 45 balls, while Holly Charles found the boundary once for her 17 from 34 balls. Afy Fletcher had earlier contributed 15, and Earnisha Fontaine 12, to get the Windward Islands Women to 97 all out in 38.1 overs.
Millington snared 3-27 from 10 overs, while Fraser and Munisar each snared two wickets.
Elsewhere, Trinidad and Tobago ended Barbados Women’s unbeaten run in a defeat by 5 wickets at St. Paul’s Sports Complex. At Warner Park, Windward Islands Women rebounded from a loss to add to defending champion Jamaica’s woes as they eked out a single-wicket win.

After 4 rounds, Guyana are in second place with 26 points from 3 wins and a loss, while Trinidad and Tobago lead with 27 points from similar results. The Barbados Women are third with 24 points, while both Jamaica and Windward Islands Women have 16 points. At the bottom of the table is Leeward Islands Women with 9 points.
Guyana will challenge for the top-of-the-table position when they confront Trinidad and Tobago at Warner Park today, Wednesday March 5. A win in that match would seal a finals appearance for the ladies from the Land of Many Waters on Friday, March 7, at Warner Park.