In a high-stakes Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) 2026 playoff showdown reduced to an eight-overs-a-side thriller at Bridgetown, Guyana Amazon Warriors secured a dramatic seven-wicket victory over Barbados Tridents with just four balls remaining.
The Tridents were sent in to bat in the shortened encounter, opening their innings with Qiana Joseph and skipper Hayley Matthews. However, the opening tandem struggled to establish early momentum against a disciplined Warriors attack. Joseph managed just 3 off 12 balls before being retired out at 16/1 after 2.6 overs to accelerate the scoring rate. The incoming Kiran Navgire couldn’t make an impact, stumped by Shemaine Campbelle off Erin Burns’ delivery on the very first ball she faced, leaving the score at 16/2 in the 4th over.
Captaining from the front, Hayley Matthews steadied the ship, constructing a crucial partnership alongside Maddy Green. Matthews scored a crisp 22 off 14 balls—hitting a four and two sixes—before being run out by the combined effort of Realeanna/Sheneta Grimmond and keeper Campbelle. Green then took absolute charge of the middle overs, blazing an unbeaten 30 off 16 deliveries (3 fours, 1 six). She formed a quickfire stand with Suzie Bates, who added a punchy 9 off 5 balls before being caught by Sheneta Grimmond off Shamilia Connell. Pooja Vastrakar joined Green late, contributing a quick 2 off 2 balls not out to bring the total to 69/4 in their allotted 8 overs.
For the Warriors bowling setup, Erin Burns was the standout performer, grabbing 1 wicket for just 11 runs in her 2 overs. Shamilia Connell also picked up a wicket, finishing with figures of 1/17. Shabnim Ismail held things tight with 0/15 in 2 overs, while Sheneta Grimmond conceded 26 runs from her 2 overs.
Chasing a target of 70 in 8 overs, the Guyana Amazon Warriors got off to an early stumble. Opener Eboni Brathwaite was removed for 2 off 3 balls in the opening over, caught by Harleen Deol off Shawnisha Hector’s bowling with the score at 3/1.
Undeterred by the early loss, Tazmin Brits and wicketkeeper-batter Shemaine Campbelle combined for a match-defining partnership. Brits was the anchor and aggressor, smashing an unbeaten 35 off 23 balls featuring 3 boundaries and 2 maxes. Campbelle provided explosive support at the other end, striking 22 off just 12 balls with a four and two sixes. The partnership put the Warriors firmly in command, taking the score to 54 before Campbelle fell caught by Mandy Mangru off Qiana Joseph’s bowling in the 5th over.
Nadine de Klerk joined Brits and scraped together 4 off 5 balls before being clean-bowled by Suzie Bates with the score at 69/3. Captain Chloe Tryon came to the crease needing just one strike to finish the game; she wasted no time, launching her first ball for a towering six to wrap up the chase at 75/3 in 7.2 overs.
The Tridents bowlers fought hard in defense of their modest total. Shawnisha Hector took 1/6 in her sole over, Qiana Joseph claimed 1/8 in her single over, and Suzie Bates picked up 1/20 in 1.2 overs. Captain Hayley Matthews (0/21 in 2 overs) and Afy Fletcher (0/20 in 2 overs) went wicketless as the Warriors clinically sealed a 7-wicket victory with 4 balls to spare.
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