BASSETERRE, St Kitts – Off-spinner Plaffianna Millington routed Trinidad and Tobago with an impressive four-wicket haul to set up Guyana’s comfortable seven-wicket win in the second game of the Women’s T20 Blaze, yesterday.
The 26-year-old off-spinner claimed four for five from 3.3 overs as T&T, choosing to bat first at Warner Park, collapsed to 66 all out in the penultimate over.
Opener Shabika Gajnabi then top-scored with an unbeaten 24 off 31 deliveries as Guyana overhauled their modest target with nine overs to spare.
She put on 20 for the first wicket with Sheneta Grimmond (4) and a further 23 for the second wicket with Realeanna Grimmond (13) to lay the platform for victory.
Captain Shemaine Campbelle arrived towards the end to blast a four and a couple of sixes in a nine-ball 19 to hasten the result.
Earlier, T&T struggled from the outset, collapsing to 33 for six and failing to recover.
Millington struck as early as the second over when she trapped West Indies star and captain Britney Cooper lbw to the first ball of the second over for two.
And she followed up in her next over – the fourth of the innings – when she sent back Djenaba Joseph and LeeAnn Kirby without scoring with the first two deliveries.
First, she bowled Joseph as the right-hander hit across a full-length delivery and then sent back LeeAnn Kirby, caught at the wicket pushing forward uncertainly, T&T slipping to 10 for four.
Boyce leads as Leewards stun Barbados
BASSETERRE, St Kitts – Out-of-favour West Indies batsman Reniece Boyce punched a half-century and Leeward Islands’ bowlers then strangled Barbados, to come away with a clever 12-run victory in the first game of the Women’s T20 Blaze, yesterday.
The 26-year-old Boyce, who played the last of her 12 internationals four-and-a-half years ago, top-scored with 67 off 52 deliveries to propel her side up to 139 for seven off their 20 overs at Warner Park.
In reply, title-holders Barbados appeared good bets to overhaul the target with 33 runs required from the last four overs, especially with former West Indies left-hander Kyshona Knight (50 not out) and current international all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne (23) involved in a critical 47-run, fifth wicket stand.
With 16 needed from the final over, however, seamer Jahzara Claxton, who only turned 18 last Tuesday, held her nerve to concede only three runs and clinch Leeward Islands’ first-ever victory over Barbados.
Choosing to bat first, Leewards were lifted by Boyce’s enterprise, the right-hander belting half-dozen fours and four sixes as she inspired a 35-run opening stand with Shebani Bhaskar (10) and a 51-run second-wicket partnership with Shawnisha Hector (14).
Sixteen-year-old off-spinner NaiJanni Cumberbatch then ripped through the middle and lower order with a spell of four for nine – including the scalp of Boyce holing out to extra cover at the start of the 18th over – as Barbados fought back gamely.
Leewards hit back early in Barbados’ chase, reducing the innings to 17 for three in the fourth over, after picking up both Zaliya Campbell, Trishan Holder, and Cumberbatch all without scoring.
Pacer Hector rattled Campbell’s stumps as the right-hander missed a loose heave, Holder skied off-spinner Rozel Liburd (2-18) to backward point while Cumberbatch was brilliantly hauled in by a leaping Amanda Edwards at mid-off.
Kyshona attempted to rescue the chase, counting four fours in a 53-ball knock. She put on 61 for the fourth wicket with twin sister Kycia (37) before finding an ally in Alleyne.
Summerise Scores
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 66 off 18.3 overs (Plaffianna Millington 4-5) vs GUYANA 67 for three off 11 overs (Shabika Gajnabi 24 not out)
LEEWARD ISLANDS 139 for seven off 20 overs (Reniece Boyce 67; NaiJanni Cumberbatch 4-9) vs BARBADOS 127 for five off 20 overs (Kyshona Knight 50 not out, Kycia Knight 37, Aaliyah Alleyne 23; Rozel Liburd 2-18). Results - Leeward Islands defeated Barbados by 12 runs.