KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent CMC – Anisa Mohammed and Gaitri Seetahal shared six wickets to bowl defending champions Trinidad & Tobago to a 41-run victory over Guyana in the West Indies Women’s championship yesterday.
World-rated off-spinner Mohammed collected three for 15 and seamer Seetahal three for 23, as T&T Women dismissed Guyana for 111 in their first round match at Sion Hill Playing Field.
West Indies left-handed batter Stacy-Ann King, who has also played semi-pro women’s cricket in Australia, had earlier led the way with the bat for T&T with 37, as the reigning champions reached 152 from their allocation of overs.
At Arnos Vale 1, Jamaica, last year’s second-placed side, comfortably rolled over Barbados by eight wickets.
The Jamaicans strolled to 100 for two in 29 overs, after dismissing Barbados for 99 in 46 overs.
Karla Cohen did the early damage for Jamaica with two for 15, while there were four run-outs in the Barbadian innings.
Jamaica captain Stafanie Taylor then stroked 62 to lead her side to an early victory, and earn the Player-of-the-Match award.
“This was a good all-round game for us,” said Taylor. “We bowled well from start to finish, and the fielding was exceptional.
“We had four run-outs, and on any day, that’s a great fielding effort. I really want to congratulate the girls for the way they went about their work.”
She added: “Early in the Barbados innings, we got a great start from Karla. She set the tone for us with a good spell.
“She has been struggling with a bit of an injury, but she fought for the team and that was very good to see.”
At Arnos Vale 2, hosts St. Vincent & the Grenadines had an easy 48-run victory over Grenada.
Chasing 127 for victory, the Grenadians fell for 78 in 42.1 overs, and failed to come to grips with the Vincentian bowling.
Terisha Lavia was the most successful SVG bowler with three for nine, and fast-medium bowler Melissa Bellingy captured two for 12.
Earlier, Afy Fletcher, the Grenada leg-spinner and captain, had the day’s best figures of four for 30, after Cordell Jack, the Vincentian captain, topscored with 60 off 88 balls.
She and opening partner Samantha Lynch added 94 for the first wicket before Fletcher intervened.
“We are happy that we played well to win the game, but we have some areas we need to get better at if we are to challenge for the title,” she said.
“We would like to win the tournament at home, but our batting needs to improve. Afy bowled very well, and put us under some pressure.”
She said: “We tried to attack her and that backfired. As captain, I knew I had to give the team a good start at the top, and I was glad I played well. I was happy to see the bowlers did such a very good job in the end for us.”
Over at Stubbs, St. Lucia got over Dominica by 12 runs in the day’s closest match.
The St. Lucians batted first, made 118, and then dismissed the Dominicans for 106.
Veteran spinner Varena Felicien had the amazing figures of two for eight from her 10 overs, their captain Phillipa Eudovic two for 26, and Natalie Cooper two for 23.
The tournament continues today with matches in both zones.
