Rain forces fixture change as T20 Blaze bowls off first
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Persistent rainy weather has forced Cricket West Indies to rearrange the women’s championship here, with the T20 Blaze now set to bowl off today.
Originally, the Super50 Cup was scheduled to get the championship underway from June 7-17 with the T20 Blaze to follow from June 19-25.
Barbados, who are defending champions in both formats, face hosts Guyana at 2:30 pm in one of three fixtures scheduled for the opening day at the Guyana National Stadium.
Leeward Islands take on Windward Islands at 10 am while Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago tangle in the night cap game starting at 7 pm.
The championship will be taking place for the first time since 2019 after being stymied for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
And Barbados captain Hayley Matthews said being able to stage the championship this year was critical to the growth of women’s cricket.
“It’s pretty exciting that we’re having a regional tournament this year. It’s very crucial for the development of women’s cricket in the region,” the West Indies allrounder said.
“The postponement over the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been unfortunate but we’re here now and looking forward to playing against the best in the region.”
Matthews is one of several international players in the side with the likes of Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell but Barbados will be without the services of marquee all-rounder Deandra Dottin who is unavailable due to unspecified medical reasons.
Jamaica, meanwhile, will field a strong side, captained by West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor and including international teammates Chedean Nation, Natasha McLean and Chinelle Henry.
Veteran international off-spinner Anisa Mohammed will lead Trinidad and Tobago with fellow West Indies players Britney Cooper, Reniece Boyce and Karishma Ramharack included in the squad.
Hosts Guyana will also boast several West Indies players led by their captain Shemaine Campbelle while international players Shawnisha Hector and Afy Fletcher will skipper Leeward Islands and Windward Islands respectively.