A thrilling last- ball contest, it boiled down to between the Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) Women; 19 runs required off the last 12 deliveries of the contest but a few lusty blows sailed into the growing shadows around the boundary at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, a beacon of the Royals’ dominance in the Massy Women’s CPL.
Exceptional bowling from Ashmini Munisar and Nyia Latchman had drawn hope out of despair for the Amazon Warriors. The tale began in the 13th over of the chase, as Munisar had Kycia Knight caught on 31 after a steady 39- run partnership alongside Courtney Webb.
Immediately after the Amazon Warriors’ keeper Amy Hunter sent a stumping opportunity a begging, Latchman served a dolly of a delivery to Chinelle Henry who could not clear the inner circle. Munisar went for the catch with one hand, juggles but in the end held on to the prized, game- changing wicket.
The Amazon Warriors were on a roll, as Latchman removed Djenaba Joseph for 7. Ecstasy rocked the Amazon Warriors when Munisar, in her final over, struck twice and suddenly the Royals were 7 wickets down and in hot water. But, the pair of wickets were subsequently followed by a pair of boundaries off the bat of Shreyanka Patil, signaling the intent of the Royals’ duo.
The penultimate over, bowled by Molly Penfold was key but a maximum and a boundary off Aaliyah Alleyne’s bat left the writing on the wall; the Barbados Royals Women would pull of the three- peat.
The beginning
The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) Women accumulated their second- highest score of the season, 136-3, after being sent in to bat first by the Barbados Royals, who won the toss.
Taking first strike was the Amazon Warriors’ trusted opening pair Amy Hunter and Realeanna Grimmond who, unfortunately could not set a strong foundation for a big score.
A quiet start, the hosts relied out just 10 runs in their first three overs but it was soon forgotten as Realeanna Grimmond found her footing, dispatching her namesake with the ball- Shenetta Grimmond, for three boundaries in the 4th over.
Immediately, the Barbados Royals captain Chinelle Henry turned to her reliable wicket- taker Chamari Athapaththu, who did not make an immediate impact, instead being put away for an uneventful 7 runs.
However, Grimmond had her revenge in the following over, trapping Realeanna LBW for 17. The length ball from the elder Grimmond crashed into Realeanna’s tigh pad as she played a non- shot as the umpire raised the dreaded finger.
Knowing the importance of the game, Grimmond went for the review which show the ball clipping the outside of the stumps, as decision rhat essentially went down to the umpire’s decision.
Stafanie Taylor made her way to the crease next, joining forces with Hunter to keep their scorecard ticking. In the 9th, Taylor survived a stumping at attempt from Barbados Royals’ wicket keeper Trishan Holder but her departure was inevitable, coming in the following over.
Signaled first by Taylor’s inability to run a single, she walked the following single, eventually crashing down to the ground, prompting the physiotherapist’s entry onto the field.
Retired hurt for 15, Laura Harris followed, adding some impetus to the Amazon Warriors’ innings.
Harris slammed two fours and a six in her short stay for 18 off 8 deliveries. Amy Hunter’s stumps was soon rocked back by Afy Fletcher for 29 off 36; making way for the partnership that would take the Amazon Warriors to the end.
The 56- run partnership between Captain Shemaine Campbelle and Dane van Niekerk proved invaluable.
Campbelle ended unbeaten on 28 from 20 while van Niekierk struck 20 from 21 balls.
For Barbados, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher and Aaliyah Alleyne claimed one wicket each.
Cruising to victory
Save except the thrills of the last few overs, there was never a moment when the Royals seemed to be out of the contest.
Restricting the Amazon Warriors to 136-3 in ther 20 overs, Barbados had half the job done already and looked to eventual leading run-scorer of the tournament Chamari Athapaththu to lead in the other half.
Disappointingly, Quiana Joseph had to head back to the dugout early for 4, which came her way from a reverse shot to the boundary.
Athapaththu got going soon after, reaching the boundary 5 times but, after hitting Karishma Ramharack over the string of fielders in the 25- yard circle for 5, Athapaththu tried to repeat the shot two deliveries later and ended up being caught in the circle for 25 from 20.
She shared a 22- run partnership with Kycia knight who went on to form the aforementioned partnership with Courtney Webb.
Munisar, in superb form on the day, snared 3-21 from 4 while Latchman picked up 2-31 from 4. However, their efforts went in vain as Aaliyah Alleyne finished things off in the fourth hall of the final over; ecstatically jogging down the 22 yards for a single that would seal their third, consecutive victory.
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