Kirby helps T&T edge Barbados in rain-hit round

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Women edged Barbados Women by four wickets in their rain-hit opening game of the Regional Women’s Championship here Thursday.

In a contest at Everest reduced to 30 over overs because of inclement weather, Barbados were restricted to 76 for seven and T&T in reply reached their target with five overs to spare.

Former West Indies player Lee-Ann Kirby saw her side home with an unbeaten 18 from 31 balls with a single six while Shenelle Lord also scored 18.

West Indies seamer Shakera Selman bowled superbly to capture three for 10 from five overs while off-spinner Hayley Matthews – another West Indies player – claimed two for 17 from six overs.

T&T were slumping at 19 for four in the eighth over before Lord and West Indies batsman Britney Cooper, who made 15, came together in a 34-run, fifth wicket stand to set up the win.

Earlier, Barbados recovered from a position of 24 for four in the 13th over after opting to bat first.

They were pulled around by Charlene Taitt who top-scored with 20 and Aaliyah Alleyne, who made 16 not out, in a 36-run fifth wicket partnership.

The innings was crippled by a brilliant spell of four for 14 from fast bowler Kirbyina Alexander, who played the last of her 26 internationals for West Indies six years ago, while Kirby completed a solid all-rounder performance by chipping in with two for 14. Rain forced the abandonment of the other two games where Leeward Islands were expected to take on holders Jamaica at Everest and hosts Guyana were scheduled to clash with Windward Islands at Enterprise.

All teams involved in wash-outs were awarded two points.

The second round bowls off today.