By Kurtis Hinds
Three-time defending champions Barbados Tridents clinched a remarkable three-run victory over Jamaica Empress women, as the Women’s Caribbean Premier League continued at Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The thrilling win follows an opening game 21-run defeat by Trinbago Knight Riders.
The result also sees the Tridents moving off the bottom of the four-team table and up to third, while Jamaica are now fourth, behind leaders Trinidad and Tobago Knight Riders and second-placed Guyana Amazon Warriors.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Tridents got up to 140 for seven from their allotted 20 overs.
They made a solid start, reaching 41 for two at the end of the powerplay, as Qiana Joseph was dismissed for 14 and Kiran Navgire for eight.
The dismissal of skipper Hayley Matthews for 21 in the 10th over saw the Tridents slip to 56 for 4, before Maddy Green and Suzie Bates added 78 runs for the fifth wicket.
Green was the first of three wickets to fall in the final over for 39 off 36 deliveries, while Bates was left unbeaten on 39 from 28 balls.
Captain Stafanie Taylor opted to bowl the final over for the Empress women, and the three wickets saw her finish with match figures of 4 for 29.
Jamaica made a strong start to their reply and rarely looked troubled in the early stages of their run chase.
They cruised to 62 without loss at the end of the powerplay, before Amy Hunter and Meg Lanning added 104 for the first wicket, as Hunter was dismissed in over number 13 for 47, with her innings coming from 45 balls and featuring six fours.
Her dismissal, however, followed by that of Rashada Williams for four and, more crucially, Lanning for 57 from 46 balls in the 18th over, saw the Empress team’s reply dramatically lose momentum.
With two overs remaining, Jamaica needed ten runs to seal the win, but Cherry-Ann Fraser dismissed Chinelle Henry for seven, while conceding just three runs during over number 19, to drag Barbados Tridents firmly back into contention.
Qiana Joseph was entrusted with bowling the final over for the Tridents and needing nine runs to secure what had earlier looked to be a certain win; Jamaica fell short at 137 for four, as Joseph allowed just a single from each of her deliveries.
Tridents star Suzie Bates was named player of the match after taking one wicket for 18 runs, to follow her earlier innings of 39 not out.
