Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas lost a nail-biting match against Windward Islands in round one of the CG United Women's Super50 Cup at Conaree Sports Club in St Kitts yesterday.
Red Force scored 185 all out in 48.2 overs, before Windward Islands just got over the line as they closed on 186/8 in 49 overs to prevail by two wickets.
Batting first, Red Force were in trouble on 129/7 after 38.3 overs when experienced batter Britney Cooper fell for 28 off 54 balls. LeeAnn Kirby then stepped up with an attacking innings to guide Red Force to a respectable 185 all out in 48.2 overs. Kirby cracked 59 off just 40 deliveries, a knock which included eight fours and one six.
Kirby was the last batter out when she was caught by Zaida James off Carena Noel's bowling.
Bowling for Windwards, captain Afy Fletcher picked up 3/40 in ten overs with her leg spin and Noel ended with 2/18 in 5.2 overs.
Jamaica Women followed up a dominant batting performance led by the West Indies Women’s duo of Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry with sharp fielding and stunned double crown defending champions Barbados Women with a 200-run win when the Cricket West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup opened yesterday in St Kitts.
The Jamaicans effected three run-outs and a stumping in the field, and the Barbadians were bowled out for 89 in 37.4 overs in their pursuit of 289 to win in the first round match at Warner Park.
Barbados Women, missing stalwarts such as West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews and retired West Indies Women’s all-rounder Deandra Dottin, were 27 for one at the close of the first Power Play, but they were 70 for six at the halfway stage and never recovered.
NaiJanni Cumberbatch led the way with 22, but no other batsman reached 20, with Taylor capping a fine all-round performance with two for 16 from 6.4 overs bowling her off-spin, and Vannessa Watts taking two for 24 from her allotted 10 overs.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) chief executive officer Jonny Grave has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) and major cricketing nations of making sure that West Indies cricket remains weak.
The fall of West Indies cricket has been a hot topic since the men's team's failure to qualify for the 2023 World Cup. Although the Caribbean side recently recorded a famous Test win in Gabba, their cricketing landscape isn't in the best of states.
"I think everyone is a bit sick of the phrase - world cricket needs a strong West Indies - when we definitely feel that world cricket is doing everything they can at almost every level to make sure that West Indies Cricket are never strong again. I think that's the borne of the frustration of that as Ian Bishop says in his own words that this is a patronising tone," Grave told Daniel Gallan in a podcast, as quoted by India Today.
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League have launched Ticket Gift Vouchers which allow customers to buy the gift of attending CPL cricket for their friends and family or used to spread out the cost of tickets for yourself. These vouchers can be used to purchase tickets for any CPL match.
The vouchers can be purchased by visiting www.cplt20.com and can be used against the cost of tickets bought online for Republic Bank CPL and Massy WCPL matches.
Chris Watson, CPL’s Head of Marketing, said: “We are very excited to introduce this new way for fans to purchase CPL tickets and we are sure that these will make a fantastic gift for any occasion. It also allows games to be more accessible by given fans the chance to spread out the cost of tickets.
“We are looking forward to welcoming fans back to CPL when we get underway in August and we hope lots of those fans at our matches have been gifted vouchers so they can attend.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) today confirmed the squads of the six regional teams participating in the 2024 CG United Women’s Super50 Cup and T20 Blaze.
The CG United Super50 Cup matches will be played at three venues in St. Kitts – Warner Park, the Conaree Cricket Centre, and St. Paul’s Sports Complex from 4 to 25 March with the 50-over matches starting at 10 am local time.
The T20 Blaze will feature five full days of entertainment for fans from 17 to 25 March at Warner Park. There will be three matches per day – starting at 10 am, 2:30 pm and 7 pm (under lights).
Barbados are defending champions in both the CG United Super50 Cup and the T20 Blaze.
