KINGSTOWN – Shawnisha Hector scored a match-winning half-century to help the Leeward Islands Women maintain their unblemished record on their way to capturing their first-ever T20 Blaze title with a tense six-run victory over Barbados Women via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) method in St Vincent on Friday.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, Hector smashed 58 off just 44 balls with seven fours and two sixes at the top of the order, to anchor the Leewards to 111 for six in their 20 overs.
The contest was set for a thrilling finish with Barbados 79 for five after 16 overs and in need of a further 33 runs from the final 24 balls at 8.25 runs an over.
However, heavy and persistent showers forced the match to be abandoned, with DLS evaluating that Barbados needed to be 86 at that point in the match.
An obviously disappointed Barbados captain Aaliyah Alleyne, who was leading her team’s charge before the heavens opened up, said she believed they would have pulled off the chase had the weather allowed.
“I wouldn’t say that anything went wrong. If we had the opportunity to go back out there, I think I would have backed my team to get us across the line. Unfortunately, this is how it goes and I’m a bit disappointed…” Alleyne said during a post-match interview before collecting the US$10,000 runners-up prize.
Meanwhile, moments before accepting the US$20 000 cheque, Leeward Islands’ captain Amanda Edwards said the team always believed they could win their maiden title.
“We are very overwhelmed about this win. The spirit in our camp is very high and we kept motivating each other,” she said.
Through the efforts of Hector and Reniece Boyce, the Leewards looked set to post a formidable total with the pair carrying their side to 68 for one during a 46-run partnership.
However, Theanny Herbert-Mayers claimed Boyce’s wicket after she scored 26 from 32 balls, leading to the Leewards losing their next three wickets for 27 runs, including that of Hector, to slip to 95 for four.
Alleyne claimed two of the last three wickets to fall to end with 2-14, while Shamilia Connell supported with 2-18.
Barbados got off to a decent start, with Eboni Brathwaite and Trishan Holder putting on 31 runs for the opening partnership.
The decision by Edwards to turn to her spinners paid immediate dividends, with Qiana Joseph claiming the wicket of Holder, who struggled in her knock of six from 21 balls, while leg spinner Rozel Liburd dismissed Naijanni Cumberbatch and Brathwaite to leave Barbados 43 for three after nine overs.
Alleyne and Asabi Callender stopped the slide of wickets in a 30-run partnership that carried them to 73 for three until the loss of two wickets by the run-out route ultimately proved to be their downfall.
Callender was run out off the penultimate ball of the 15th over and new batter Shakera Selman followed suit four balls later to put Barbados behind on DLS.
Only three more balls were bowled before the rain forced the players off the field, with Alleyne unbeaten on 16 and Barbados agonisingly short of their target.
Liburd was the Leeward’s best bowler with 2-12 from her four overs.
CMC
Summarised scores
LEEWARD ISLANDS WOMEN 111-6 in 20 overs (Shawnisha Hector 58, Reniece Boyce 26; Aaliyah Alleyne 2-14, Shamilia Connell 2-18).
BARBADOS WOMEN 79-5 in 16 overs (Eboni Brathwaite 26, Aaliyah Alleyne 16 not out, Asabi Callender 14; Rozel Liburd 2-12).
Toss: Leeward Islands elected to bat first.
Result: Leeward Islands won by six runs under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method.
Player-of-the-Match: Shawnisha Hector.
Umpires: Patrick Gustard, Jacqueline Williams.
Match Referee: Jonathan Blades.
