Guyana edge Jamaica in super over for T20 Blaze title
…Return home to splendid welcome
Guyana’s Senior Women’s Cricket Team flipped the script on former champions Jamaica on Sunday, going down to the wire in a super over thriller to clinch the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s T20 Blaze Championship.
As such, a welcome fit for the bravest of heroes met the Women’s team on Monday when the majority of them returned home to Guyana in a flight that touched down at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara. As they were ushered off the plane by the sweet sounds of drumming alongside the calming traditional dances of the Riverside Angels, the women’s team could be seen beaming with joy.
Guyana’s women celebrated in the field as they took on Jamaica (Windies Regional Photo)
“We have more tournaments to win, and I’d just like to say, ‘Thank you’,” standout leg-spinner Nyia Latchman said on behalf of her team during the ensuing welcome programme.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, expressed pride in the team’s performance, praised their ability to match the heroics of their male counterparts, and
shared with the players and support staff, “You have made a nation proud, and you would have exhibited true Guyanese grit. You know Guyanese are a very resilient people, you went down to Jamaica and you bounced back up, and you gave them a proper licking. We are very proud of that.
Shemaine Campbelle played a captain’s hand during the final
“Just earlier this year, we were here because the male team would’ve won the 4-Day championship. You ladies have shown that anything the men do you can do, and even better,” Ninvalle said, as he went on to joke about the ladies’ superior dance skills, compared to their male counterparts’.
Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President Bissoondyal Singh also had glowing words for the victorious ladies.
Joint highest wicket-taker and super over winner Nyia Latchman addressed the gathering (Jemima Holmes Photo)
“Your performance on the field has been nothing short of extraordinary,” he remarked, as he went on to state, “Your return to Guyana as champions is a moment we have been eagerly awaiting. You went abroad not just as competitors, but as ambassadors of Guyana’s spirit, determination, and cricketing excellence, and you have returned home as heroes. Your triumph marked the second regional title within one year; but of significance, this is the first time we’re lifting the CWI T20 Blaze Trophy.
“The last time we were here, the Honourable Charles Ramson said that we are becoming a nation of winners. From a cricketing standpoint, we are now a nation of champions; so, I say welcome home, our champions. Today is a day of national pride and celebration.”
The Championship run
Two days earlier, Guyana lost their last league match to Jamaica by 7 wickets, and had had to face the 2024 champions again at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for Sunday’s final.
Plaffiana Millington presented GCB President Bissondyal Singh with the Championship Trophy (Jemima Holmes Photo)
Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, the Guyanese bowlers stifled Jamaica’s star power just enough to keep them to 122-5 in their 20 overs.
Chedean Nation was the most outstanding Jamaica batter, hitting a run-a-ball 35, while Abigail Bryce remained unbeaten in accumulating 32 in 36 deliveries. 15 and 27 off the bats of Lena Scott and opener Jodian Morgan respectively helped Jamaica to their total.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle (Jemima Holmes Photo)
Both Nyia Latchman and Ashmini Munisar claimed two wickets for Guyana. And the efforts of captain Shemaine Campbelle and Realanna Grimmond pushed Guyana to level the scores at the end of their 20 overs.
Campbelle had a captain’s knock of 54 off 47 balls that included 3 fours and 2 sixes, while Grimmond slammed 4 fours and 1 six, but missed out on her half century, as she contributed 46 from 53 balls.
Jodian Morgan snared 2-25 from 3 overs.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, GCB President Bissoondyal Singh, and other stakeholders flanked Guyana’s victorious women’s team upon their arrival at the Eugene F Correia Airport at Ogle, ECD (Jemima Holmes Photo)
As such, the encounter went down to a super over, where Guyana batted first and posted 8-1 in their six balls. Captain Campbelle then entrusted leg-spinner Nyia Latchman with defending Guyana’s total, and that she did. Latchman’s over had three dot balls and two wickets, keeping Jamaica at 3-2, 6 runs short of the target.
Guyana’s Shemaine Campbelle and Realeanna Grimmond were among the tournament’s top run-getters with 133 and 121 runs respectively; while Shenetta Grimmond, Nyia Latchman and Trinidad’s Steffie Soogrim tied for the most wickets with 10 apiece.
