CWI Rising Stars Championships 2024: Guyana U19 Women make it 4 wins in 4 matches

Guyana’s Under-19 Women stole another victory on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championships being played in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Spectators at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex were treated to a nail-biter in which the Leeward Islands Under-19 women took their game with Guyana down to the wire, but the ladies from the ‘Land of Many Waters’ ultimately prevailed, although by a slim 2 runs.
The Guyanese ladies again won the toss and again opted to bat first, but none of their batters was able to get past 20 runs. Opener Naomi Barkoye top-scored with 17 from 26 deliveries, while Captain Realeanna Grimmond’s 15 runs in 20 balls was the next best score. Danellie Linde contributed a 38-ball 14 runs, and the hefty helping of 23 extras really boosted the Guyanese ladies’ score, enabling them to finish with 94-5 in their 20 overs.

Captain Jahzara Claxton claimed 2-16 from 4 overs for the Leewards, while Kimberley Anthony, Gabrielle Harrylall and Sainvani Kambalapalli had one scalp each.
It was a rocky start to the chase for the Leewards ladies, as their openers Megna Bashya and Katherine Bean Rosarion were both sent back to the dugout for ducks, while the next batter in, Kambalapalli, was dismissed for 6 runs.
The Leeward Captain Claxton gave them hope by slamming an unbeaten 52 from 64 deliveries, including 2 fours and 2 sixes. Kimberley Anthony hit 11 from 10, and coupled with a few single digit scores down the scorecard, the Leeward Islanders came within reach of a victory.
However, drama unfolded in the final over, when they needed 11 runs for victory with a single wicket in hand. Helped by a no-ball on the first delivery, they persevered with a string of 2s in the next three balls off Claxton’s bat. Guyana’s Danellie Manns tossed one up to Claxton in the fourth ball, and she opted to sky it. Guyana’s Captain Grimmond called for the catch, but dropped it. All was not loss for the Guyanese team, as Grimmond had the sense of awareness to go for the run out, taking Harrylall’s wicket at the none-striker’s end.
The Leeward ladies were left 2 runs short of their target, resulting in Guyana’s fourth win on the trot in this tournament.
Trisha Hardat led the way for the Guyanese bowlers with 3-9 from 4 overs, while Nyia Latchman claimed another 3 wickets for 12 runs from her 4 overs.
Guyana will come up against the Windward Islands next at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground on Thursday, July 11 from 10:00hrs.