Jamaica storm into semi-finals after thrashing Windward Islands

The weather was a major factor during the earlier part of the day as it potentially threatened to wash out the fixture between Jamaica and Windward Islands. But as good faith would have it a 33-over affair saw the Jamaican ladies dominating their opponents and cashing in their ticket to be the second team booked into the semi-finals.

Windward Islands took to the crease first and found themselves pinned down in the first 10 overs, losing three wickets with the score on 22. To make matters worse, the runs dried up as well, as the Jamaicans bowled an impressive line and length, picking up wickets at key intervals. From 22-3 to 61-8 in 23.4 overs, Jamaica’s bowlers were unstoppable. Japhina Joseph, who played a resistant knock of 23 off 57 balls, stuck around to the end, but there wasn’t much she could have done. She, along with Carena Noel, who scored 21, put together the highest partnership of 39 runs for their side to take them to 101-9 in 32.4 overs. For the Jamaicans, an impressive bowling spell from Stafanie Taylor, who bagged 3-22 from her seven overs, was followed up by Vanessa Watts with 2-10 off her eight, Neisha Ann-Waisome 2-16 and Chinelle Henry 1-9 to put their team in a commanding position.
In the chase, the team batting second are always under pressure, but the Jamaicans proved how good they were as they made light work of the total ending on 100-2 in 23.2 overs as the target was reduced to 100 off 32 overs via Duckworth Lewis. Rashada Williams found form and scored a handy 43 while Taylor backed up her brilliant bowling spell with an unbeaten 36. The Windward Islands did manage to bag the two wickets of Natasha McLean for 8 and Keneisha Ferron for 1, but Jamaica recovered well from 21-2 to take the game. Pearl Etienne was the standout bowler as she bagged 2-15 in a losing cause.
The action will continue today at 09:30h, as Guyana will take on the Leeward Islands.