Dottin leads Barbados to Super50 crown

EXPLOSIVE WEST Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin again proved superb as Barbados easily retained their Regional Super50 title by brushing aside arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) by 28 runs in their finalround match on Monday.

Both sides entered the contest at Enmore on the backs of four straight wins, but it was Barbados who proved superior, chalking 242 for seven off their 50 overs and then restricting T&T to 214 all out in the 48th over.

Not for the first time, Dottin’s performance was the decisive factor as she stroked a halfcentury and grabbed a six-wicket haul to snatch Player-of-theMatch honours.

After Barbados were sent in, the 27-year-old veteran of over 100 ODIs and T20 Internationals struck a rapid 73 off 43 deliveries to lead a trio of half-century makers as Kycia Knight top-scored with 77, while her twin, Kyshona Knight, chipped in with 56.

Their interventions were needed after captain Hayley Matthews and fellow opener Danielle Small perished without scoring to leave Barbados two wickets down without a run on the board in the second over.

But the Knight twin – both West Indies players – came to their side’s rescue in a 133-run third-wicket stand. The lefthanded Kycia faced 88 deliveries and struck eight fours, while Kyshona, also a left-hander, counted five fours in a patient 135-ball innings.

When both fell in the space of 25 balls, Dottin arrived at the crease to dominate in typical style, blasting three fours and a half dozen sixes in a frenetic 88-run fifth-wicket partnership with Charlene Taitt (15).

Off-spinner Karishma Ramharack was the best bowler, with four for 37.

In reply, Felicia Walters (27) and Rachel Vincent (10) provided a 50-run opening stand for T&T, but it consumed 97 deliveries and placed immense pressure on the innings.

Stacy-Ann King then chipped in with 38 from 49 balls, adding 44 for the third wicket with Britney Cooper (23), while former Windies skipper Merissa Aguilleira top-scored with 32 from 21 balls in a 49-run fifthwicket partnership with Reniece Boyce (39) in an attempt to repair the innings.

However, Dottin produced a telling burst with her medium pace to claim six for 38, scything through the middle and lower order as T&T crashed from 182 for four in the 42nd over, losing their last six wickets for just 30 runs.