Athapaththu, Joseph shine as Royals crush Knight Riders

At National Stadium in Providence, Chamari Athapaththu and Qiana Joseph starred as defending champions Barbados Royals outclassed and outfought the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), cruising to a 59-run victory in match three of the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
The Barbados Royals won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Chamari Athapaththu and Qiana Joseph gave the defending champions a flying start, playing a mix of elegant and powerful strokes. With controlled aggression, the Royals reached 44 without loss at the end of the powerplay, scoring at a healthy rate of 7.30 runs per over.
Joseph carried on with her attacking intent beyond the powerplay, smashing Jahzara Claxton for two towering sixes. However, Claxton struck back to break the opening stand, dismissing Athapaththu for 14. Undeterred, Joseph maintained her momentum and brought up a well-deserved half-century with a stylish shot behind deep backward square.
The Royals’ progress was checked when captain Deandra Dottin produced a sharp piece of fielding to run out Georgia Redmayne for just 2, leaving the scoreboard reading 72 for 2.

Leading from the front, Dottin struck again as she bowled Courtney Webb for just 5. She was unstoppable in her spell, producing another breakthrough immediately, this time sending Chinelle Henry back first ball with a peach of a delivery that crashed into the stumps.
Suddenly, the Royals’ strong start had begun to unravel. At the end of 13 overs, they found themselves in trouble at 91 for 4.
The Royals’ innings continued to sink when Qiana Joseph, who had held things together, was finally dismissed by 17-year-old Samara Ramnath. Joseph played a brilliant knock of 63 from 53 balls, featuring eight fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 121, but her departure left the champions reeling.
As the innings entered the final five overs, the Royals were struggling at 104 for 5, with their earlier platform slipping away.
Jess Jonassen joined the wicket column in the 18th over, knocking back the stumps of Aaliyah Alleyne for 9. In the final over, Deandra Dottin was entrusted with the ball, but the Royals managed to fight back, collecting 14 runs to finish on a respectable 137 for 6.
Dottin ended with excellent figures of 2 for 22, while Kycia Knight’s late cameo of 33 from just 21 balls proved invaluable in lifting the defending champions to a competitive total.

With 138 runs to defend, the Royals started brilliantly as Shamilia Connell set the tone with a maiden in the opening over. Guyanese off-spinner Sheneta Grimmond then rocked Trinbago Knight Riders with a double strike in her very first over, removing Shawnisha Hector and Jahzara Claxton for ducks to leave TKR reeling at 2 for 2 after just two overs.
The collapse deepened when Chamari Athapaththu struck twice in quick succession by first bowling Jess Jonassen for 10 with a perfect full-length delivery, then dismissing Shabika Gajnabi for a duck. At the end of the powerplay, TKR were under immense pressure at 29 for 4.
The Royals’ bowlers refused to ease up, and their grip tightened further when Shreyanka Patil dismissed captain Deandra Dottin for just 6. By the seventh over, TKR were in deep trouble at 36 for 5, with their chase in tatters.
With Lizelle Lee and Shikha Pandey attempting to steady the innings, Trinbago Knight Riders reached 59 for 5 after 10 overs. But the Royals struck again when Chamari Athapaththu was reintroduced into the attack. The Sri Lankan star made an instant impact, removing Pandey for 10, brilliantly caught by Sheneta Grimmond.

Athapaththu wasn’t done there, as with the very next delivery, she produced a perfect yorker that shattered the stumps of Jannillea Glasgow, sending her back for a golden duck.
Afy Fletcher then joined the party, trapping Salonee Dangore for 5 as the Royals tightened their grip, leaving TKR reeling at 77 for 8 after 15 overs. Shamilia Connell wrapped up the innings by bowling Samara Ramnath for a duck, leaving the visitors effectively all out. Lizelle Lee remained unbeaten on 39 off 44 balls, but with Zaida James unable to bat due to an ankle injury sustained in the first innings, Trinbago Knight Riders fell short, handing the Royals a commanding 59-run victory.