By Rosario Samaria
A century from Jamaica captain, Stafanie Taylor, was enough to trump her opposite number, Shemaine Campbelle’s century as Jamaica defeated Guyana by six wickets in the second round of the Cricket West Indies Colonial Medical Insurance Women’s Super50 Championships yesterday.
Competing under glorious sunshine at the Everest Cricket Club, Guyana won the toss and elected to bat first, reaching 232 all out in 49.5 overs. They then failed to restrict Jamaica, who raced to 244-4 in 46.4 overs.
The hosts owed their eventual total to their skipper Campbelle who smashed her way to the first century of the tournament, an unblemished 111 from 118 balls.
After Sheneta Grimmond’s off stump was sent cartwheeling by Karla Cohen, the 26-year-old took the Jamaican’s to the sword as she hammered two sixes over mid-wicket and 14 boundaries, one of which was guided down to fine leg to bring up her ton.
Campbelle, during her two-and-a-half hour stay at the crease, forged a 48-run partnership with Shabika Gajnabi. The teenager carved three boundaries before cutting left-arm orthodox, Alecia Bookal to Taylor at point for 20.
Bookal also removed Cherry Ann Fraser (01) while Melanie Henry left her bat hanging to push a simple return catch to Taylor as Guyana struggled at 114-7.
However, Campbelle was joined by Tremayne Smartt and the pair shared a 98-run partnership for the eighth wicket until the captain was caught at long on off the bowling of Taylor.
Smartt (58) pushed on to bring up her own half century by cutting Bookal for one of her six boundaries.
Taylor’s off-spin saw her returning 3-44 while Bookal accounted for 2-32.
In the chase, left-arm seamer, Erva Giddings gave Guyana a dream start by knocking over Natasha McLean with her second delivery but that opened the door for the Taylor show.
Taylor flicked, swept and punched as she pounded a six off of Smartt over her head and into the sight screen as well as 16 boundaries, three of which were consecutively hit off of the same bowler.
The West Indies captain was lucky as Guyana had a horrible day in the field putting down four catches including Taylor who was on 69 at the time as well as missing two simple run outs.
Taylor, who felt the effects of a 160-minute innings under scorching heat struggled a bit but batted responsibly with pristine running between the wickets that allowed her to share in a 119-run second wicket stand with Rashada Williams who was run out via direct hit by Akaze Thompson fielding at short leg.
Williams was happy to give Taylor the strike in her innings of 47 that consisted only two boundaries from 96 balls as Jamaica reached 96-1 at the half way stage.
Taylor also shared a third wicket partnership of 81 with Chedean Nation who stroked a 39-ball 30 despite being dropped on zero and three.
Giddings returned to remove Chidean Nation via leg before wicket as well as bowl Taylor in the same over to bring Guyana back in the game with the visitors requiring 42 from 42 balls.
Nevertheless, an unbeaten cameo of 23 from Chinelle Henry and Jodian Morgan (19 not out) who clobbered Thompson for four boundaries in the 45th over and a six over mid-wicket to end the match saw their team over the line.
Campbelle said the team missed a lot of opportunities in the field in a game that should have been a win while playing down her century modestly but was furious with their performance in the field which ultimately led to their second loss in as many matches.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s skipper Taylor said it was about taking the responsibility in the middle and working with a plan while crediting good cricketing shots around the ground with a bit of bad fielding from the opposition.
