Guyana 96 for 5 (Gajnabi 38, Munisar 17, Glasgow 1-10) beat Windwards 89 for 5 (Glasgow 41, Fletcher 33, Millington 1-13) by 7 runs
Defending champions Guyana defeated the Windward Islands by seven runs in the first game of the Cricket West Indies Women’s T20 Blaze on Tuesday, setting the tone for what would be a low-scoring opening round of matches.
It was the battle of the all-rounders in the first contest of the triple-header at the Arnos Vale Playing Field. Shabika Gajnabi top-scored with a 37-ball 38 to help Guyana to 96 for 5 from their 20 overs. Ashmini Munisar chipped in with 17, and opener Mandy Mangru hit 16.
Jannillea Glasgow led the Windwards bowlers, conceding 10 runs for the wicket of Realeanna Grimmond (
. While Captain Zaida James and Carena Noel had identical figures of 1 for 14. There was also a wicket apiece for Afy Fletcher and Holly Charles, who claimed 1 for 20 and 1 for 23, respectively.
The Windwards lost Ashlene Edwards (5) and James (1) early in their response, to be restricted to 19 for 2 in the fifth over, before Glasgow and Fletcher fashioned 59 runs for the third wicket. When Munisar had the latter caught at long-on for 33, the Windwards were comfortably in control of the chase, needing 19 from 16.
After scoring at a run a ball for the next ten deliveries, however, the equation for the final over read "9 from 6," with Glasgow stuck at the non-striker's end.
Plaffiana Millington then produced the perfect start to the ultimate over, prising the wicket of Earnisha Fontaine for 4. She followed up with a dot, which forced Glasgow into a suicide run in an attempt to get to the striker's end, resulting in her demise via run-out for a top-score of 41.
Millington conceded just the one run in the over to hand Guyana a winning start to their title defence by restricting Windwards to 89 for 5.