In a thrilling contest in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) 2026, Barbados Tridents Women pulled off a stunning fightback to defend a modest total and secure a nail-biting 3-run victory over Jamaica Empress Women in Bridgetown. Barbados Tridents Women opted to bat first but struggled to gain early momentum against a disciplined Jamaica attack.
Openers Qiana Joseph and skipper Hayley Matthews added 31 runs before Nonkululeko Mlaba made the crucial breakthrough, catching and bowling Joseph for 14 off 15 balls in the 4th over. Shortly after, Chinelle Henry struck to remove Kiran Navgire for a quickfire 8 off 6 balls, leaving the Tridents at 40/2. Stafanie Taylor then tore through the top order, dismissing Harleen Deol for just 2 off 8 balls and taking a return catch to send back captain Matthews for 21 off 23 balls, leaving Barbados in trouble at 56/4 in the 10th over.
Despite the early stumbles, Maddy Green and Suzie Bates brought stability to the innings, rebuilding with a crucial 78-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Green scored a patient 39 off 36 balls before falling to Taylor in the 20th over. Taylor then turned the final over into a masterclass, dismissing Pooja Vastrakar for 2 off 2 balls and Cherry-Ann Fraser for a golden duck.
Suzie Bates remained unbeaten with a vibrant 39 off 28 balls, while Afy Fletcher added 4* off 1 ball to close the innings out. Among the Jamaica Empress bowlers, Stafanie Taylor was the standout with brilliant figures of 4/29 in her 4 overs. Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/16 in 4 overs), Chinelle Henry (1/16 in 2 overs), and Aaliyah Alleyne (1/29 in 4 overs) kept things tight, while Rosemary Mair (0/29 in 3 overs) and Syeda Aroob Shah (0/21 in 3 overs) went wicketless.
Chasing a modest target of 141, Jamaica Empress Women got off to a commanding start. Openers Meg Lanning and Amy Hunter put together a dominant 104-run partnership, setting a firm foundation for the chase. Hunter registered a solid 47 off 45 balls before Afy Fletcher finally broke the stand in the 13th over, having her caught by Bates.
Rashada Williams stepped in next but managed only 4 off 10 balls before Suzie Bates dismissed her in the 16th over. Qiana Joseph then struck a massive blow by taking out the dangerous Lanning, who top-scored with a brilliant 57 off 46 balls, leaving Jamaica at 118/3 in the 18th over. With the pressure mounting, Barbados Tridents tightened their grip during the death overs. Cherry-Ann Fraser removed Chinelle Henry for 7 off 6 balls, caught by Navgire.
Skipper Stafanie Taylor remained stranded on 8* off 7 balls alongside Aaliyah Alleyne (4* off 7 balls), as Jamaica Empress fell just short, finishing at 137/4. The Tridents’ bowling effort was spearheaded by economical 4-over spells from Suzie Bates (1/18), Afy Fletcher (1/23), and Qiana Joseph (1/24), alongside Cherry-Ann Fraser’s key spell of 1/13 in 2 overs. Shawnisha Hector (0/18 in 2 overs), Pooja Vastrakar (0/11 in 1 over), and Hayley Matthews (0/28 in 3 overs) supported the attack to seal a remarkable victory.
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