With the Women’s Super 50 now well underway after three rounds of competition, surprise surprise defending champions Barbados has already raised their shoulders as a cut above the rest in the league format tournament. New captain Hayley Mathews, who caught fire from round one; where she spun her way to figures of 7/27 versus the Leeward Islands has yet to cool down. The now 21-year-old Mathews, has since gone on to get scores of 91 and 108 in the second and third rounds, respectively.
The right-hander’s century came in a sweeping performance against rivals Jamaica, led by WINDIES Women’s captain – Stafanie Taylor. On Thursday, all eyes turned to the top half of the table ahead of the round three clash, where powerhouses Barbados and Jamaica would square off. The defending champions went into the game a point ahead of the ladies from the Land of Wood and Water. But, if there was still any doubt following the first two matches, this dominant 8-wicket win over last year’s runners-up confirmed that Barbados will take some stopping in this year’s Women’s Super 50.
There is Trinidad and Tobago, on the other hand, who has also won all three of their matches. It is worth mentioning though, that they are yet to play any of their fellow (what we are calling) ‘big three’ (Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad) in this tournament. This will change however, in round four as they will go up against the wounded Jamaicans. Not to say the Jamaicans will be a walkover as we can expect the likes of captain Taylor; who does have a century already this season, along with Natasha McLean and all-rounder Chinelle Henry to come-out-swinging in an attempt to bounce back from their defeat to Barbados.
Hosts, Guyana, who began the tournament on a losing note, picked up their first win in round three with a 131-run win of the Leeward Islands.
It is rather ominous, the experience running through the spine of the Barbados team with the likes of Shamilia Connell, Shakera Selman, Deandra Dottin, Mathews and the Knight twins – Kycia and Kyshona, all representatives of WINDIES Women. But even more ominous are the mature performances being put on show by the Mathews led outfit.
That being said, much will rest on the shoulders of Shemaine Campbell if Guyana is to cause an upset in their fourth round tie with Barbados on the 23rd, giving the Trini’s a chance to put some distance between themselves and the Bajans atop the table, this with a win against Jamaica. While, a win for Guyana would make for an even more competitive Super 50. In the other game in round four, the Windward Islands will take on the Leewards Islands in a bottom-of-the-table clash.
