Jamaica defeat Leewards by 10 wickets

In a totally one-sided affair, Jamaica defeated the Leeward Islands by 10 wickets in the fourth round of the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.

Jamaica bounced back after two losses by bowling out Leewards, (who won the toss and batted)  for 61 in 18.4 overs.

Their openers, in reply, reached 67 without loss in 6.4 overs.

Once again, Leewards batting order did not click with Naesha Waisome running through the top order to earn herself the player of the match award for her figures of 3-10.

Malissa Howard showed her grit before being bowled by a full toss from Waisome for 10 as they slipped to 25-5 at the halfway stage.

United States Women captain, Shebani Bhaskar and Saneldo Willett, were both run out.

Vanessa Watts got among the wickets, removing Rozel Liburd and Amanda Edwards, who was snatched out of the sky at the long on boundary by a diving Chinelle Henry to finish with 2-15.

It was the lower order that put their heads down and resisted with Terez Parker and Melicia Clarke sharing a 28-run stand for the ninth wicket before Chedean Nation bowled  Clarke with the first delivery of her over.

Parker was left stranded on 18 from 20 balls, consisting of three boundaries, two of which were cut through point off of Watts.

In the chase, none of the bowlers looked effective against Natasha McLean and Jodian Morgan who shared in the unbroken half century stand.

Morgan raced to 30 from just 24 balls as she blasted five fours, four of which came off of Shawnisha Hector and a lone six that was sent crashing into the groundsmen under the Red Stand in the mid wicket region.

McLean showed no mercy for the bowlers, taking 28 runs from her 16 deliveries. Her innings was decorated with five fours and a lone six that sealed the match and registered Jamaica’s victory after they had lost their last two games.