Following the Women’s Super50 Cup, the 2024 edition of the Women’s Twenty20 (T20) Blaze gets underway on the 17th of March, 2024, with Barbados and the Leeward Islands facing off at Warner Park, Basseterre, at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Barbados – Kycia Knight (C), Kyshona Knight, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shanika Bruce, Asabi Callender, Zaliya Camobelle, Shamilia Connell, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Erin Deane, Keila Elliott, Allison Gordon, Theanny Herbert-Mayers, Trishan Holder, Alisa Scantlebury
Leeward Islands – Amanda Edwards (C), Terez Parker, Tyynetta McKoy, Reniece Boyce, Melicia Clarke, Rozel Liburd, Shawnisha Hector, Tonya Martin, Chey-Anne Moses, Shebani Bhaskar, Kimberley Anthony, Jahzara Claxton, Divya Saxena, Saneldo Willett
Players to watch out:
Kycia Knight
The 32-year-old keeper-batter kicked off her 2024 domestic season amassing 274 runs from 5 One-Day outings. Kycia was the leading run-scorer in the T20 competition last season, and given the form she is in, it’ll be expected that the seasoned campaigner will step up for the team.
Shamilia Connell
The 31-year-old pacer, maintaining an economy rate of 5.50, picked up 6 wickets from 5 T20s last season. Shamilia, this domestic season, scalped 9 wickets from 5 One Day matches, and it’ll be hoped that she capitalizes on her form, continuing to lead the charts in the T20 Blaze.
Divya Saxena
The 30-year-old all-rounder accumulated 109 runs from 5 outings and also bagged a couple of wickets from as many bowling innings last edition. Divya hasn’t been anywhere near good this domestic season; however, she’ll be backed to find her footing in the T20 Blaze.
Amanda Edwards
The 34-year-old all-rounder managed 104 runs and picked up 4 wickets from 5 outings in the 2023 T20 Blaze. Amanda has struggled for runs this summer and hasn’t claimed many wickets as well, but the team will count on the veteran to rediscover her form in this competition.
Pitch:
With the track being on the slower side, it has not been easy for batting, and the average score of 115 at the venue suggests the same. Bowlers, especially spinners, dictate the proceedings of the game, requiring batters to take calculated risks.
Weather:
With partly cloudy skies and a low chance of rain, the conditions are pleasant at Warner Park for some cricket. The temperature is forecasted to hover around 29°C, with moderate winds and a humidity level of 72%.
Fantasy playing XI:
Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Divya Saxena, Trishan Holder, Amanda Edwards, Jahzara Claxton, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Aaliyah Alleyne, Allison Gordon, Shamilia Connell, Keila Elliott
Match details:
Date – March 17, 2024
Time – 7:30 PM IST
Venue – Warner Park, Basseterre
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the Cricket West Indies YouTube channel and live scorecards can be accessed on windiescricket.com match center.