Barbados Royals Women Aim for Victory Against Guyana Amazon Warriors Women in Massy WCPL Clash

Defending champions Barbados Royals Women (BR) are eyeing another win tonight to seal their place in this year’s Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) final as they seek successive titles.

Up against the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women in Tarouba, the Royals Women have stormed to the top of this year’s table with four points after registering wins in their two matches.

Losing finalists Guyana Amazon Warriors Women (GAW) sit in second place on two points after three matches, level with Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) on points and games played but separated by net run rate (0.327 to -0.752).

The Royals began their title defence in Tarouba last Wednesday with a nail biting one wicket victory against the Guyana Amazon Warriors with one ball remaining. Chasing 119 runs, the Royals got over the line thanks largely to an unbeaten knock of 61 runs from skipper Hayley Matthews. South African speedster Shabnim Ismail ripped through the Royals batting order with a four wicket haul in her four overs and made the otherwise paltry total look quite steep.

Earlier in the day, the captain’s bowling figures of 2-19 paired with Aaliyah Alleyne’s 3-21 were instrumental in reducing the Warriors to 118-9.

Matthews was the star of the show once more on Thursday with another half century, this time 67 not out along with two wickets plus two catches as the Royals dispatched Deandra Dottin’s Trinbago Knight Riders by seven wickets. A collective team performance in the field meant the Knight Riders were held to a below par 113-9 as Chinelle Henry, Amanda Jade-Wellington and Matthews picked up two wickets each.

The Amazon Warriors picked up their only victory in their game of the competition on Friday when they beat TKR by eight wickets with 16 balls remaining. Overseas players Lauren Winfield Hill who led the side and Erin Burns showed their class with scores of 46 and 78 not out respectively, as they eased their way to the 131 runs needed for victory. Earlier in the game, South African spinner Chloe Tyron was the pick of the bowlers when she took 4-21.

The Knight Riders got their revenge just two days later in a less convincing manner when they won a Super Over on Sunday to register their first points of the tournament.

Captain Deandra Dottin reminded viewers of her domineering best when she smashed 53 runs from 38 deliveries to help her side to a modest total of 128-8 in 20 overs. Burns was amongst the runs again with another half century (61 runs) but remarkably, despite GAW having five wickets in hand with just 11 runs required for victory in the last over (seven of which came in the first three balls) the game still went to a Super Over.

From there Dottin hit 13 off 4 in the Super Over and her partner Jemimah Rodrigues added six runs to leave the Warriors to get 20 off their over. Australian left arm spinner Jess Jonassen conceded just five runs to comfortably seal the two points for her side.

Victory for Barbados Royals Women will see them reach their third successive final, losing the inaugural final in 2022 to Trinbago Knight Riders Women by 1o runs before emerging victorious last year against the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women by eight runs.

Summarised Scores

Game 1: Guyana Amazon Warriors Women 118-9 in 20 overs (Stafanie Taylor 38, Shermaine Campbelle 16; Aaliyah Alleyne 3-21). Barbados Royals Women 119-9 in 19.5 overs (Hayley Matthews 61*, Shabnim Ismail 4-16). Result: Barbados Royals Women won by one wicket with one ball remaining.

Game 2: Trinbago Knight Riders Women 113-9 in 20 overs (Shikha Pandey 30, Deandra Dottin 28; Chenille Henry 2-14, Amanda Jade-Wellington 2-14). Barbados Royals Women 116-3 in 17.1 overs (Hayley Matthews 67*; Jess Jonassen 2-21). Result: Barbados Royals Women won by seven wickets with 17 balls remaining

Game 3: Trinbago Knight Riders Women 130-6 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 33, Jess Jonassen 28; Chloe Tyron 4-21). Guyana Amazon Warriors Women 134-2 in 17.2 overs (Erin Burns 78*, Lauren Winfield Hill 46*). Result: Guyana Amazon Warriors Women won by eight wickets with 16 balls remaining

Game 4: Trinbago Knight Riders Women 128-8 in 20 overs (Deandra Dottin 58, Shikha Pandey 25; Chloe Tyron 2-12, Karishma Ramharack 2-19). Guyana Amazon Warriors Women 128-5 in 20 overs (Erin Burns 61, Shermaine Campbelle 25). Trinbago Knight Riders Women – Super Over 19-0 (Deandra Dottin 13). Guyana Amazon Warriors Women- Super Over 5-2 (Jess Jonassen 2-5). Result: Match Tied- Trinbago Knight Riders Women won Super over.