West Indies female all-rounder Shabika Gajnabi smashed a majestic 152 as she spearheaded her team, Rose Hall Town Metro, to a crushing 328-run victory over West Berbice in the opening round of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/RHTY&SC/Nand Persaud Female 50-Over cricket tournament.
The match was played at the Area ‘H’ Ground in Rose Hall Town, and Gajnabi, who failed to gain selection to the West Indies female World Cup squad, stroked 24 boundaries and blasted two massive sixes as she added 220 for the second wicket with Marian Samaroo, who scored 45.
Shabika Gajnabi
Captaining the RHT Metro team in the absence of Shemaine Campbelle, Gajnabi won the toss and elected to take first strike. Kimmone Thomas and Samaroo put on 30 for the first wicket, before Thomas was bowled by T. Isaacs for 06.
The rules of the tournament dictated that every wide bowled would result in two runs being awarded to the batting side, with the bowling side having no opportunity to bowl that delivery again. Samaroo played the supporting role to her West Indies counterpart Gajnabi, who looked a class above the other batters.
Kassie Munroe chipped in with 40 not out, while useful scores came from national under-19 player Oma Matadin (15), Aleema Arokium (16), Erva Giddings (15) who was not out, and Dian Prahalad (12).
Extras contributed a healthy 120 runs, as inexperienced West Berbice bowlers struggled in the charged atmosphere. Bowling for the visitors, Isaacs took 2 for 62 and D. Frank took 3 for 65.
Needing to score an almost impossible 425 from 50 overs if they wanted to win, the West Berbice team made 100 all out in 33 overs against an experienced RHT Metro bowling attack that included two bowlers who played for West Indies, and several who are Guyana players. West Indies players Shemaine Campbelle and Sheneta Grimmond were absent from the proceedings.
National player Kantana Mentore top scored with an unbeaten 30, while Isaacs returned a score of 15. Erva Giddings took 2 for 15, Sherika Campbelle took 2 for 17, Plaffina Millington took 3 for 19 from 10 overs, and Dian Prahalad took 3 for 30. They were the RHT Metro team’s wicket-takers, who would now play New Amsterdam/Canje in the second round of this tournament.
