Barbados bounced back from their opening round loss to Leeward Islands to post their first win, with a 19-run victory against Windward Islands. Opener Trishan Holder slammed an unbeaten 68 off 54 deliveries to get them up to 123 for 5 from their 20 overs. Barbados then restricted the Windwards to 104 for 8 off their 20 overs, off-spinner Erin Deane (2-12) and seamer Aaliyah Alleyne (2-17) grabbing an outstanding two wickets apiece.
Choosing to bat first, Barbados slipped to 32 for two at the start of the ninth over. Holder and Alleyne then joined in a 54-run third-wicket partnership. Holder lashing eight fours and a six in an entertaining knock, Alleyne supported with three fours in a 27-ball inning before getting her stumps rattled in the 16th over. On 41 at the time, Holder then took responsibility for the back end of Barbados’ innings as wickets tumbled around her.
In reply, Windwards were stumbling at 29 for 2 in the sixth over when Allison Gordon bowled opener Namiah Marcellin for 19. Fletcher tried to revive the run chase in a 23-run, third-wicket stand with all-rounder Zaida James but managed only five before being drawn from her crease by a delivery from Deane and was stumped in the 11th.
West Indies leg-spinner Afy Fletcher top-scored with 28 from 32 deliveries but was the only Windwards batsman to pass 20. The turning point came when Fletcher had her stumps shattered in the 14th over as Barbados closed out strongly.
In another match, the second of the triple-header at Warner Park in St. Kitts, T&T defeated Leeward Islands posting their first win of the Women’s T20 Blaze with a nine-wicket win. They restricted Leewards to 78 for 6 from their 20 overs and then chased down the target with nearly six overs to spare.
Choosing to bat first, Leewards slumped to 26 for 4 in the 10th over and needed a 43-run, fifth wicket stand between top-scorer Jahzara Claxton (25 not out) and Divya Saxena (17) in order to recover.
In reply, T&T had very few struggles, Sawh producing a 36-run opening stand with Cooper requiring only 16 balls and including two fours.
When Cooper played across a straight delivery from pacer Shawnisha Hector and was lbw in the fifth over, Joseph arrived to see T&T over the line in an unbroken second wicket stand of 43 with Sawh.
West Indies batsman Djenaba Joseph top-scored with 22 not out, while the experienced captain Britney Cooper (21) and 19-year-old opener Shunelle Sawh (20 not out) played supporting knocks.
