Trinidad & Tobago were crowned champions of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship after defeating defending champions Barbados by six wickets in the final at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua on Saturday.
Batting first, Barbados posted 104 for 5 from their allotted overs, led by an unbeaten 30 from Zaniyah Bruce and 27 from Eboni Brathwaite.
Right-arm medium pacer Sameera Naidoo was the pick of the Trinidad & Tobago bowlers, claiming 3 for 18, while Amrita Ramtahal and Brianna Harricharan took one wicket apiece.
Chasing 105 for victory, Trinidad & Tobago needed just over five runs per over to dethrone the defending champions. Despite losing inspirational captain Samara Ramnath for one in the third over, with the score on 8 for 1, the twin-island republic quickly regained control, reaching 65 for 1 inside the 13th over.
Two quick wickets from Bruce briefly put Trinidad & Tobago under pressure at 79 for 3, but they remained composed and completed the chase at 105 for 4 with an over to spare.
