Jamaica Women win as champs Barbados end unbeaten
Jamaica won their final match in the Women’s Super50 Cup, but the day belonged to spinners Afy Fletcher and Steffie Soogrim, who both snared six-wicket hauls but endured contrasting fates.
In the final round of matches, champions Barbados made light work of Leeward Islands to finish their campaign unbeaten.
West Indies left-spinner Fletcher claimed six for 29, but her Windward Islands slumped to an eight-run defeat to Jamaica at Conaree Sports Club.
Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Soogrim picked up six for 14, propelling Trinidad and Tobago to a comprehensive 77-run victory over Guyana at St Paul’s Sports Complex.
Barbados having already successfully defended their crown, celebrated by whipping the Leeward Islands by seven wickets at Warner Park.
The Barbadians, led by West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, ended on 20 points, six clear of T&T in second, with the Windwards, Guyana and Jamaica all on eight points.
The Leeward Islands finished last on two points – the only team not to register a victory.
The Windwards appeared en route to an easy win when Fletcher turned over Jamaica for 105 in the 39th over, Jod-Ann Brown top-scoring with 23.
Off-spinner Vanessa Watts then claimed four for 20 and West Indies fast bowling all-rounder Chedean Nation, three for 17, as Windwards then folded for 97 in the 23rd over.
Opener Malika Edward struck 35 from 39 balls with half-dozen fours and a six, putting on 65 for the fourth wicket with Pearl Etienne, who made 21, to pull the chase around from 12 for three in the fifth over.
However, the Windwards then lost their last seven wickets for 20 in a sudden collapse to come up short.
Soogrim ensured T&T ended strongly, her spell signalling Guyana’s demise for 56 all out in the 36th over, in pursuit of 133 for victory.
Veteran West Indies off-spinner
Anisa Mohammed had earlier shone with the bat, top-scoring with an unbeaten 54 off 118 deliveries to get them to 132 for eight off their 50 overs.
With the innings in ruins at 11 for four in the eighth over, Mohammed put on 48 for the fifth wicket with West Indies player Britney Cooper (18) and a further 45 for the seventh wicket with another international Karishma Ramharack (19), to lead a recovery.
Barbados further compounded Leeward Islands’ misery, fast bowler Shakera Selman (3-9) and new-ball seamers Allison Gordon (2-12) and Asabi Callender (2-17) sending the minnows tumbling for 74 in the 28th over.
In reply, Barbados made an uncomplicated run chase unnecessarily messy when they lost Trishan Holder (18) and Callender (0) in the ninth over to slip to 41 for three before Aaliyah Alleyne (21 not out) and Alisa Scantlebury (14 not out) saw them home in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand worth 34.
Teams will now turn their attention to the T20 Blaze, which bowls off on Saturday.