(Commonwealth_ The Barbados Royals secured their second consecutive Women’s Caribbean Premier League title in a thrilling final against the Trinbago Knight Riders, winning by just four runs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Thursday. In a closely contested match, the Royals managed to defend a modest total of 94, after bowling out the Knight Riders for 93 in their 20 overs, ensuring a dramatic finish. Winning the toss and opting to bowl, the Royals quickly seized control of the match, as their opponents struggled to find momentum. The Knight Riders, led by captain Deandra Dottin, were pegged back early. Dottin, a key player for her team, managed just eight runs before falling to Royals’ captain and Most Valuable Player Hayley Matthews. Things worsened for the Knight Riders as Jemimah Rodrigues, another vital player, was dismissed for two, caught and bowled by Chinelle Henry. These early losses left the Knight Riders reeling at 10-2 within the powerplay.
The only significant partnership of the Knight Riders’ innings came between Jannillea Glasgow and Shikha Pandey, who put together a 43-run stand. However, the partnership was painfully slow, scoring at less than five runs per over, leaving the Knight Riders with a mountain to climb in the latter stages of their innings. Despite their resistance, Glasgow eventually departed for 24, bowled by Aaliyah Alleyne, and the collapse began in earnest. Alleyne, who delivered a standout performance with the ball, was instrumental in dismantling the Knight Riders’ batting order. She picked up four wickets in quick succession, leaving their hopes in tatters. Following Glasgow’s dismissal, Pandey (28) was the next to go, as Alleyne bowled her out. She then proceeded to claim the wickets of Chedean Nation (1) and Zaida James (1), reducing the Knight Riders to 72-7 by the end of the 16th over.
With the lower order crumbling, it was left to Kycia Knight to salvage whatever she could from the innings. Knight’s unbeaten 17 helped push her team to a total of 93, but the damage had already been done. Alleyne finished with remarkable bowling figures of 4-21 from her four overs, while Matthews also contributed with 2-13 from her four, ensuring that the Royals were in prime position for the chase. Chasing 94 for victory, the Royals started strongly. Hayley Matthews and Chamari Athapaththu, the Royals’ openers, seemed to be in complete control, racing to 48 without loss within the first six overs. It looked as if the Royals were cruising to an easy win, but off-spinner Samara Ramnath turned the game on its head.
Ramnath first accounted for the dangerous Matthews, who was dismissed for 13, and then went on to remove Qiana Joseph for 14, leaving the Royals at 66-2 in the 10th over. This triggered a middle-order collapse for the Royals, as Anisa Mohammed got in on the act, dismissing Aaliyah Alleyne for just two.
From a comfortable position at 85-3 in the 13th over, the Royals suddenly found themselves losing wickets rapidly. Laura Harris, Rashada Williams, and Chinelle Henry all fell in quick succession, contributing only two runs between them, and giving the Knight Riders a glimmer of hope. At 88-6, the game was back in the balance. However, Chamari Athapaththu stood firm for the Royals. Despite wickets tumbling around her, Athapaththu held her nerve and played a patient and composed knock. Her unbeaten 39 from 47 balls proved to be the difference, as she guided her team over the line. Afy Fletcher, who remained not out on four, provided crucial support at the end as the Royals edged past the Knight Riders’ total, reaching 94-6 in 15 overs.
