The Women’s Caribbean Premier League 2026 will begin with Barbados Tridents Women taking on Trinbago Knight Riders Women in the opening match of the tournament. The game will be played at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday, September 6, 2026, and will begin at 5:30 AM IST on Sunday, September 6. This will be the first match of the fifth edition of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. Both teams will be looking to start their campaign with a win and build early confidence. With several experienced international players on both sides, the tournament opener will be an exciting contest to watch.
Barbados Tridents Women enter the new season as the defending champions, after defeating Guyana Amazon Warriors Women by 3 wickets in the final of the previous edition. They will now begin their title defence against a Trinbago Knight Riders Women side that also has plenty of experience in its squad. Trinbago have players such as Deandra Dottin, Marizanne Kapp and Yastika Bhatia, while Barbados have Hayley Matthews, Suzie Bates and Pooja Vastrakar. Both teams have a strong mix of experienced names and talented players. The opening match will give both sides an early chance to show what they can bring to the competition.
Squads:
Barbados Tridents Women’s Cricket Team
Maddy Green, Mandy Mangru (WK), Kiran Navgire, Suzie Bates, Asabi Callender, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shawnisha Hector, Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Pooja Vastrakar, Amrita Ramtahal
Trinbago Knight Riders Women’s Cricket Team
Amelia Khan, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Earnisha Fontaine (WK), Laura Harris, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Marizanne Kapp, Shikha Pandey, Samara Ramnath, Jannillea Glasgow, Madeline Penna, Karishma Ramharack, Brianna Harricharan, Sainavi Kambalapalli, Steffie Soogrim
Players to watch out:
Hayley Matthews
Hayley Matthews will be one of the biggest players to watch for Barbados Tridents Women in the opening game. She has scored 3382 runs in 127 WT20I matches, with the highest score of 132 and an average of 29.15. She has also recorded 21 half-centuries and three centuries, showing her ability to produce important scores in the format. With the ball, Matthews has taken 130 WT20I wickets, including best figures of 4/10. Her ability to make an impact with both bat and ball makes her a key player for Barbados.
Qiana Joseph
Qiana Joseph will also be an important player for Barbados Tridents Women and can provide useful runs when the team needs to increase the scoring rate. She has played 40 WT20I matches and scored 521 runs, with the highest score of 63and a strike rate of 113.26. She has hit 66 fours and 18 sixes in the format, showing her ability to play attacking cricket. Joseph has also contributed with the ball, taking 12 WT20I wickets with best figures of 3/8. Her all-round ability gives Barbados another useful option in the tournament opener.
Deandra Dottin
Deandra Dottin will be one of the main players to watch for Trinbago Knight Riders Women because of her experience and ability to change the game quickly. She has scored 3228 runs in 154 WT20I matches, with the highest score of 112* and an average of 26.03. Her record includes two centuries and 14 half-centuries, along with 50 sixes, showing her power with the bat. Dottin has also taken 77 wickets in WT20I cricket, with her best bowling figures being 5/5. Her experience in both departments could make a big difference for Trinbago.
Marizanne Kapp
Marizanne Kapp will be another major player for Trinbago Knight Riders Women and brings plenty of international experience to the team. She has scored 1774 runs in 126 WT20I matches, with a highest score of 81* and an average of 20.87. She has also struck at 107.06 and has six half-centuries to her name in the format. Kapp has been even more impressive with the ball, taking 101 WT20I wickets, with best figures of 4/6 and a bowling average of 20.51. Her ability to contribute in both departments will be valuable for Trinbago throughout the match.
Pitch:
The Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, is expected to provide a pitch with good pace and bounce. The surface has been described as fast and bouncy, which could give pace bowlers a chance to trouble batters with extra bounce. Batting conditions are expected to be average, so batters may need to settle before attempting bigger shots. Spinners could also come into the game as the surface becomes slower during the match.
Weather:
The weather in Bridgetown is expected to be cloudy and overcast. The temperature is forecast to be around 28°C, while the humidity could be high at approximately 83% during the game. Wind speeds are expected to be around 11.50 mph, with cloud cover forecast at close to 99%.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Hayley Matthews, Suzie Bates, Qiana Joseph, Maddy Green, Pooja Vastrakar, Afy Fletcher, Deandra Dottin, Marizanne Kapp, Yastika Bhatia, Shikha Pandey, Karishma Ramharack
Match Details:
Date – September 6, 2026
Time – 5:30 AM IST
Venue – Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
Broadcast – All matches of the 2026 Women’s Caribbean Premier League will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network. Fans can also follow the tournament live through the FanCode app and website.
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