Jamaica Women hunt fourth win
COACH CLEON Smith has called on Jamaica Women to bring their top game today ahead of their crucial clash with defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Women at Sabina Park in the penultimate round of the West Indies Women’s T20 Blast.
The Jamaicans, with three wins from as many starts, could all but secure the title with victory over their opponents, who have won once and lost two in their outings thus far.
The matchup, which will be third of a triple-header at the venue, is set to bowl off at 6:30 p.m.
In the opening match of the day, Windwards face Leewards at 9:30 a.m. The second fixture will see title-contenders Barbados, also with three wins, taking on Guyana at 2:30 p.m.
DECISIVE GAMES
“Our opening three games are now gone, and our remaining two games will decide the championship,” said Smith. “We have to bring our ‘A’ game as we will be playing a tougher team.”
Jamaica, who are seeking their first regional title in three seasons, will enter the contest hoping that captain Stafanie Taylor, and her West Indies teammates, all-rounder Chedean Nation and off-spinner Venessa Watts, will continue their good form.
Taylor, who also bowls off-spin, was player of the match in their opening clash against Guyana with a good all-round performance, Nation then followed up in the second innings against the Windwards, while Watts, in claiming five wickets, paved the way for their win against the Leewards.
“I would have loved if we were challenged a little bit more in the batting and bowling areas in our first three games where we bowled out our opponents for under 100 runs and won two of the games by eight and seven wickets,’’ said Smith. “This because we know going forward, we will be challenged. The girls, however, have been playing according to plan, and as such, I am confident they will continue to get it right.”