CG Insurance Women’s Super50: Barbados beat Jamaica to claim championship

Story and Photos By Brandon Corlette

Led by a responsible half-century from Kycia Knight, Barbados successfully defended the CG Insurance Women’s Super50 championship in steamrolling Jamaica by eight wickets (DLS Method) at the Providence stadium in Guyana.

Barbados compiled 120-2 in 23.4 overs, after Jamaica had posted 118-8 in their allotted 26 overs.
Earlier, Jamaica won the toss and opted to bat first. At 12-1, the rains came, and after a lengthy delay that commenced at 10:02h, play was resumed at 14:00h, with the match being reduced to 26 overs. Rashada Williams was the first wicket to fall before the rain delay, to Aaliyah Alleyne.
Keneshia Ferron (11) and Jodi-Ann Morgan (13) added 19 runs for the second wicket.
Stafanie Taylor came, and looked at ease early in her innings, as she played delightful shots. While the Barbadians were not flawless in the field, Carrington took two screaming catches at long-on.

Ferron and Taylor added 34 runs for third wicket, taking Jamaica to 60-3 after 14.3 overs. The explosive Natasha McLean, who was held back to attack the spinners down the order, came and struck a six over long-on, but her innings was short-lived, and she departed for 19, caught at long-on with the Jamaica score at 90-4.
McLean and Taylor added 30 runs for the fourth wicket.
Chinelle Henry (07) was run out by the brilliant Matthews at backward point, who scored a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Matthews did well to recover, as she tumbled for the save.
With Jamaica reduced to 104-5 in 24.1 overs, the accurate Alleyne then shattered the stumps of Jerona Walcott (02) with the first ball in the final over.
Wicketkeeper-batter Tameka Sanford got off the mark with a boundary, after a misfield by Matthews. The third ball in that over saw Taylor being run out for a well-made 44 from 57 balls. She struck five fours in her responsible innings.
Alleyne, who bowled two maidens, delivered some Yorkers and created an opportunity to pick up a wicket on the penultimate ball, but the fielder spilled it. Jamaica ended on 118-8 in 26 overs. Matthews ended with 2-16 in six overs, while Alleyne ended with 2-19 in five overs.
In chasing the target, Barbadians Kayley Matthews and Kycia Knight added 56 runs for the opening wicket in 11.4 overs. The duo set the tone, but captain Matthews was bowled by the off-spinner Howell for 22 from 31 balls.
Kycia Knight, who began her innings with blazing boundaries off Henry, kept her foot down and played a crucial knock. Her twin sister Kyshona came and added 41 runs for the second wicket, as Barbados looked in control on 97-2 in 20.1 overs. Kyshona Knight was trapped by Henry after scoring 14, but Alleyne partnered Kycia and the duo ensured no further hiccups in reclaiming their Super50 title.