Trinidad and Tobago Women have been crowned champions of the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Women’s Championship 2026, defeating defending champions Barbados Women by six wickets in a nail-biting final at the Coolidge Cricket Ground on Saturday. The victory marked T&T’s second win over Barbados in as many days and ensured they finished the tournament unbeaten, winning all six of their matches to claim their title.
Sent in to bat, Barbados posted a competitive 104 for five in their 20 overs, a marked improvement from their preliminary round collapse against the same opposition. Zaniyah Bruce anchored the innings with an unbeaten 30 off 25 balls, while tournament top-scorer Eboni Brathwaite contributed 27 runs. However, once Sameera Naidoo dismissed Brathwaite to reduce Barbados to 50 for three in the 10th over, momentum shifted. T&T’s disciplined bowling restricted Barbados to just 39 runs from their final seven overs, with Naidoo finishing as the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-18 from her four overs.
In reply, T&T’s chase began nervously as captain Samara Ramnath fell early with the score at eight. A stabilising 57-run partnership between Amrita Ramtahal (29 off 34) and Seraiah Kawalsingh (27 off 41) put T&T in control, but Bruce struck twice in quick succession to remove both batters, leaving T&T at 79 for three in the 15th over. Brianna Harricharan added 18 off 14 balls before being run out, making the equation 11 runs needed from the final two overs. Jannah Mohammed sealed the title with two boundaries off Sabriel Headley in the penultimate over, sparking wild celebrations among the Trinidadian camp. Bruce ended as Barbados’ best bowler with 2-18 from her four overs.
Jamaica Secure Third Place
In the third-place playoff, also at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Jamaica Women defeated Leeward Islands Women by five wickets to finish third in the tournament. Leeward Islands, after winning the toss and batting first, were restricted to 69 for eight in 20 overs, with only captain Aaliyah Weekes (18) and opener Zara Skerritt (12) reaching double figures. Jamaica’s captain Adanya Baugh led the bowling attack with 2-21, while 31 extras from Leeward Islands further hampered their total.
Jamaica’s chase faltered at 37 for five, thanks to two wickets each from Leanga Warner and Weekes, but Baugh’s unbeaten 10 and an unbroken 33-run partnership with Nicoya Green guided them home.
Guyana Finish Fifth
At Liberta Sports Ground, Guyana Women avoided finishing last by defeating Windward Islands Women by 64 runs. Openers Jada Fraser and Briana Samaroo top-scored with 23 runs each as Guyana posted 100 for seven, boosted by 30 extras. Windward Islands collapsed to 36 all out in 24 overs, with no batter scoring more than five runs. Sowanna Booker (3-1), Shenesa Thomas (3-9), and Christina Jackson (2-18) led Guyana’s bowling assault.
Trinidad and Tobago’s unbeaten run and clinical final performance underscore their emergence as a powerhouse in regional women’s youth cricket, setting the stage for future success on the international stage.
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