In a rare double header in the ongoing 4th edition of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), the Barbados Royals, led by skipper Chinelle Henry, were up against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, led by skipper Shemaine Campbelle.
Chamari Athapaththu and Chinelle Henry take Barbados Royals to 132/6
The Royals openers, Qiana Joseph and Chamari Athapaththu, got their side off to a flying start with a 26-run opening partnership on a tricky surface, after skipper Shemaine Campbelle won the toss and inserted them to bat first. Cherry-Ann Fraser broke the stand, by sending an ominous Qiana Joseph (8 off 4 balls) back to the pavilion in the 3rd over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
Georgia Redmayne joined Chamari Athapaththu at the crease, and the duo took their side past the 50-run mark with another crucial 27-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Laura Harris sent G Redmayne (10 off 10 balls) packing to end the powerplay on a high note for the Warriors. Barbados Royals were soon reduced to 55/3, as they lost Courtney Webb in the 7th over of the innings.
Decent partnerships followed, including the highest of the innings, worth 31 runs for the 5th wicket between skipper Chinelle Henry (46* off 34 balls) and the wicket-keeper batter Kycia Knight (15 off 24 balls), which propelled them to a fighting total of 132/6 in their quota of 20 overs. Chamari Athapaththu (37 off 42 balls) chipped in with a crucial contribution with the bat for the Barbados Royals.
Laura Harris (4-0-28-3) and Ashmini Munisar (4-0-16-0) were the standout performers with the ball for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Nyia Latchman (4-0-24-1), Plaffiana Millington (3-0-21-1), and Cherry-Ann Fraser (4-0-31-1) picked up a wicket each with the ball for their side.
Amy Hunter’s 63 in vain as the Warriors fall short in a nail-biter
Chasing a tricky total of 133, the Guyana Amazon Warriors lost the wicket of their opening batter, Realeanna Grimmond (4 off 8 balls), in the 3rd over of the run chase. Chamari Athapaththu provided the first breakthrough for the Barbados Royals.
Skipper Shemaine Campbelle joined wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter at the crease, and the pair revived the run chase with a gritty 73-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. However, Chamari Athapaththu returned and landed a massive blow by sending the Warriors skipper Shemaine Campbelle (40 off 40 balls) back to the pavilion in the 15th over of the run chase to provide the crucial 2nd breakthrough for her side.
The Irish youngster Amy Hunter tried her level best to keep her side in the hunt, like a lone warrior, but unfortunately, she didn’t get enough support from the other end as she kept losing her partners one after the other, making things even more challenging. Hunter’s (63 off 50 balls) departure on the first ball of the final over of the run chase proved to be the decisive blow for Guyana. As a result, falling agonisingly short of the target by 3 runs, with 11 runs of the final five deliveries. The Warriors innings concluded at 129/8 in their quota of 20 overs.
Chamari Athapaththu (4-1-25-3), Afy Fletcher (4-0-28-2), and Shreyanka Patil (4-0-22-0) were the stand-out performers with the ball for the Barbados Royals. Aaliyah Alleyne (2-0-17-1) and Qiana Joseph (1-0-1-1) played their part with the ball for their side.
Chamari Athapaththu was awarded the Player of the Match for her impressive all-round performance, 37 (42 balls) with the bat and 4-1-25-3 with the ball for her side. The win keeps their hopes alive of a top-spot finish for the Chinelle Henry-led side in the ongoing 4th edition of the WCPL.
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