Trinbago Knight Riders keep final hopes alive with first win in the Massy WCPL

Trinbago Knight Riders recorded their first win of the 2023 Massy Women’s Premier League (WCPL) to keep their final hopes alive at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

The Knight Riders beat Hayley Matthews’ previously unbeaten Barbados Royals by 13 runs, meaning the winner of the final group match between the Knight Riders and the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday will play the Royals in Sunday’s final.

The Knight Riders kept the theme going with winning the toss and opting to bat first. Deandra Dottin’s side applied pressure early with a strong PowerPlay setting up for a big score, keeping wickets in hand, eventually finishing on 155/3.

Gaby Lewis put up a good fight with a half-century in reply after a good start with Matthews but tight bowling eventually made 156 look too far away late on.

Knight Riders scored 33 runs inside two overs in the PowerPlay courtesy of quickfire starts from Marie Kelly and Kycia Knight. At 58/1 from six overs, the hosts continued to put on partnerships with low risk through the experience of captain Deandra Dottin and Mignon du Preez keeping the steady innings ticking over to reach 155/3 despite just one six in the innings.

Amanda-Jade Wellington prevented a higher score with very economical figures of 0/11 in the middle overs while Matthews picked up a pair of wickets, one at each end of the innings to finish with 2/23.

The Royals had chased a score higher than this total already in this year’s competition but it wasn’t to be on this occasion despite causing threat throughout.

Matthews came out firing, reaching her highest score of the WCPL this year with 45 before she was dismissed by 15-year-old Samara Ramnath on her T20 debut. 

After a more supportive role initially, Irish international, Lewis kicked on to 62, bringing up her 50 in 43 balls, another substantial knock for the Royals after her 47 in match one.

With other overseas Erin Burns and Laura Harris failing to get out of single figures, the wickets continued to fall for the Royals and Lewis’ dismissal in the 18^th over needing to up the run rate to 12-an-over, the innings fizzled out at the hands of 18 overs of spin from the Knight Riders.

Match Summary

Trinbago Knight Riders Women 155/3 (20 ov)

Barbados Royals Women 142/7 (20 ov)

Trinbago Knight Riders Women won by 13 runs.

SCORECARD

Match Stats

Trinbago Knight Riders Women Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Marie Kelly - 4.4 ov), 2-88 (Kycia Knight - 11.3 ov), 3-138 (Deandra Dottin - 18.5 ov)

Barbados Royals Women Fall of wickets: 1-68 (Hayley Matthews - 9.2 ov), 2-75 (Erin Burns - 10.6 ov), 3-97 (Laura Harris - 14.2 ov), 4-120 (Aaliyah Alleyne - 17.1 ov), 5-121 (Gaby Lewis - 17.3 ov), 6-128 (Amanda-Jade Wellington - 18.1 ov), 7-142 (Trishan Holder - 19.6 ov) 

Playing XI

Trinbago Knight Riders Women: Kycia Knight(WK), Mignon du Preez, Marie Kelly, Britney Cooper, Kyshona Knight, Deandra Dottin, Zaida James, Anisa Mohammed, Fran Jonas, Samara Ramnath, Shamilia Connell

Barbados Royals Women: Rashada Williams(WK), Gaby Lewis, Laura Harris, Chedean Nation, Trishan Holder, Hayley Matthews, Erin Burns, Aaliyah Alleyne, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Vanessa Watts, Jahzara Claxton

Match Details:

Date:Wednesday, September 6, 2023 19:30

Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba

Toss: Trinbago Knight Riders Women elected to bat

Officials Umpires: Candace la Borde (West Indies) Jacqueline Williams (West Indies) Maria Abbott (West IndieTV)

Match Referee: Reon King (West Indies)

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