Barbados, Windwards make winning starts

Barbados and West Indies batsman, Kyshona Knight

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent,  CMC – Out-of-favour West Indies batsman Kyshona Knight stroked a half-century as Barbados trounced arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago by six wickets, in the opening round of the Women’s Super50 Championship here Thursday.

Asked to chase 132 in a game reduced to 46 overs per side because of wet conditions due to rain at Sion Hill, Barbados got home in the 38th over with the left-handed Knight top-scoring with 56 and West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin chiming in with 26.

Barbados were in trouble at 17 for two in the seventh over but Knight and Dottin combined to add 65 for the third wicket and rescue the run chase.

Barbados and West Indies batsman, Kyshona Knight

Knight faced 107 balls and counted four fours and a six while Dottin hit four fours in her 53-ball knock.

West Indies Women off-spinner Anisa Mohammed was brilliant, conceding just 11 runs from her quota of 10 overs and taking a wicket, but received little support.

Earlier, Britney Cooper reiterated her international credentials with a breezy 52 off 59 deliveries as T&T, sent in, were restricted to 131 all out off 42 overs.

She put on 45 for the fourth wicket with former West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira (25) to pull T&T around from 36 for three in the 18th over.

Off-spinner Hayley Matthews was the best bowler with four for 19 while Dottin grabbed two for 19 with her seam.

At Arnos Vale, Windward Islands made a winning start to their campaign when they dismissed Guyana by five wickets.

Chasing 132, the Windwards reached their target in the 35th over, thanks to a top-score of 41 from veteran former Windies player Cordel Jack and 24 from Afy Fletcher.

Windwards were 25 for two in the fifth over before Jack and Fletcher added 62 for the third wicket to add momentum to the run chase.

Sent in, Guyana were held to 139 for nine off their 50 overs with June Ogle top-scoring with 37 and the experienced Shemaine Campbelle getting 26.

Akira Peters claimed three for 23 while Afy Fletcher added two for 18.

In the other game, wet conditions at Park Hill forced the abandonment of the contest between Leeward Islands and Jamaica.