T&T lift title after abandoned final

WICB Regional Women’s Super 50…

– teams disappointed at not playing final at Providence

by John ramsingh

The rain affected West Indies Cricket Board Regional Women’s Super 50 came to an end on Sunday with the final being abandoned without a ball being bowled much to the disappointment of players, officials and spectators at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Georgetown. Barbados were second in the points standings and the no-result meant that Trinidad and Tobago are the new 50 Overs

champions.
The Umpires Athol Hamilton, Jacqueline Williams and Shannon Crawford made several inspections throughout and at 14:20h they met with the captains and match Referee Reon King and the match was called off.
Barbados who with 10 points from one victory, three no-results and a defeat were the more disappointed team as they were dethroned without even an opportunity to defend their crown. Trinidad and Tobago had 12 points from their five matches with one victory, four no-results but did not lose a match and by virtue of having more points they were crowned champions. Despite acknowledging that they had no control over the weather the feeling in both camps is that the final should have been shifted to the Guyana National Stadium.
Speaking to Guyana Times Sport after the match head coach of Barbados Ezra Moseley who was high in praise for the grounds men at Everest for doing a fabulous job in getting the ground to such a state after persistent rain on Saturday night into Sunday morning left the ground waterlogged in some parts was hoping for the final to be shifted to Providence.
Moseley felt it was possible to get in a short game from about 15:00h but the decision was made by the match officials and the coach said although his charges are disappointed they had to accept it (the final decision). Moseley noted that if it was up to his team they would have started the match but said in the end it was very disappointing not to play.
The Barbadian said it was very disappointing that of the 15 preliminary matches only four games were played and produced results. The Windward Islands did not play a game in the entire tournament and Moseley who played two Test matches for the West Indies is hoping for more action in the T20 format including matches for the Windwards. The T20 format bowls off on Thursday July 21 with all six teams playing.
Gerald Garcia, head coach of new champions was openly expressing his frustration on behalf of his team for not getting in the championship match even though it was a sunny day. Garcia mentioned his team’s advanced preparedness for the tournament and noted that despite the losses incurred in teams travelling to match venues daily only to be told that no play is possible the biggest losers are the players. He noted that the some of the players are in transition and the 50-overs tournament was the ideal stage to show their talents and challenge for higher calling in their career.
When asked if he thinks an alternative should have been explored the coach was fast to point out that there was adequate time for the final to be shifted and a full match could have been possible at the Guyana National Stadium. “If you have a ground like Providence I feel that the thought should have been there and measures should have been put in place because of the weather. I am disappointed because the game should have been playing at this very moment.”
Garcia said that he is glad that his team won but is not happy the way they won. Similar sentiments were expressed by Trinidad and Tobago captain Marissa Aguilera.
The former West Indies women’s captain said “I have mixed feelings towards the entire tournament, it is difficult to accept the way you won the tournament but at the end of the day God shone his light upon us and we have to say thank God.”
Aguilera felt it was touch and go to play especially knowing the rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC) which were executed by the Umpires. The Umpires felt the need to heed to players’ safety first and called off the game.
“It was frustrating having to sit all day waiting only to hear that the game is called off.”
In looking ahead to the T20’s the Trinidadian skipper said “I am happy, I am excited. The players were talking about the T20’s because all matches will be played at the Providence stadium. I am happy that all the teams especially the Windward Islands will get some cricket.”
The Women’s Super 50 started on July 7 with three matches per day on alternate days scheduled for Enterprise Community Centre Ground and Enmore Community Centre Ground on the East Coast of Demerara and Everest Cricket Club Ground in Georgetown however only four matches were possible in the round-robin tournament with defending champions Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago qualifying for the finals. The Windwards and Leewards have put together teams for this tournament and many were looking forward to seeing what they had to offer but will now have to wait for the T20’s.
West Indies new chairman of selectors, Courtney Browne is in Guyana to look at the talents and he will also have to wait for the shortest version of the game to have any assessment of the female cricketers.