In a thrilling finale at the Brian Lara Stadium, the Barbados Royals successfully defended their Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) title with a resounding victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders. The match, played on Thursday night (August 29) in Tarouba, saw the Royals clinch the championship by four wickets, showcasing their dominance throughout the tournament.
Barbados Royals restricts Trinbago Knight Riders for 93
After winning the toss, the Barbados Royals elected to bowl first, a decision that proved to be pivotal. The Trinbago Knight Riders struggled to build momentum, managing to score only 93 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their 20 overs.
Key contributions came from Jannillea Glasgow, who top-scored with 24 runs off 31 balls, and Shikha Pandey, who added 28 runs from 31 deliveries. However, the Royals’ bowlers were relentless, with Aaliyah Alleyne leading the charge, taking four wickets for just 21 runs in her four overs. Hayley Matthews also made a significant impact, claiming two scalps for 13 runs, while Chinelle Henry chipped in with one wicket.
Chamari Athapaththu led the Royals’ chase
Chasing a modest target of 94 runs, the Royals faced some early challenges but ultimately secured victory in just 15 overs, finishing with a score of 94 for 6. Chamari Athapaththu was the standout performer for the Royals, scoring 39 runs off 47 balls, which included seven boundaries.
Laura Harris provided crucial support with a quick 15 runs off six balls, while Qiana Joseph contributed 14 runs. Despite a few wickets falling in quick succession, the Royals maintained control of the chase, ensuring they crossed the finish line with relative ease.
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Player of the Match
The Player of the Match award went to Aaliyah Alleyne for her outstanding bowling performance, which played a crucial role in restricting the Knight Riders to a low total. Alleyne’s efforts, combined with effective batting from Athapaththu, were instrumental in the Royals’ successful title defense.
Back to back WCPL titles for Barbados Royals 🩷#cricket #WCPL #WCPL2024 #T20 #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/R2ZM5tdi81
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) August 30, 2024
As the celebrations begin, the Royals will look to build on this success in future seasons, while the Knight Riders will aim to regroup and come back stronger next year.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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