The T&T Red Force will need Barbados to slip-up today in the final round of matches of the Women’s T20 Blaze after Deandra Dottin dented the divas’ hopes yesterday of lifting the title. Both teams squared off in the penultimate round of the tournament at the National Stadium in Guyana. The Bajans won the toss and asked T&T to bat first.
After losing Lee Ann Kirby for just seven, Stacy-Ann King and Britney Cooper came together in a crucial 34-run partnership. The stand helped the Red Force ladies avoid an early wobble with King getting to 30 before she was out leg before wicket (LBW) by Shakera Selman. That’s when the local ladies endured a slide, losing two further quick wickets.
Rachel Vincent was gone for just three while Cooper’s knock was ended by Deandra Dottin when she got to 31. At 81 for four, captain Merissa Aguilleira stepped in to stem the flow of wickets. She struck an unbeaten 29 that included four boundaries as the Red Force ladies finished their innings on 136 for six from 20 overs. Dottin ended with two for nine while Selman had two for 18.
In the chase, T&T got off to the perfect start when Anisa Mohammed got the wicket of opener Hayley Matthews for zero after just three balls. However, Danielle Small and Kycia Knight fought back for the Bajans, putting on 41 runs. Small struck three boundaries in a cameo knock of 15 that came at a run-a-ball. The Bajan wicket-keeper soldiered on for her side. Joined by Dottin, both batters put on a 25-run partnership.
Knight made 28 runs from 20 balls, hitting two sixes and two fours along the way. When she was run-out, Dottin picked up where her teammate left off, smashing an unbeaten 52 runs from just 32 balls. The West Indies all-rounder pummeled the T&T bowlers, striking two sixes and five fours during her stay at the crease. Kyshona Knight played a solid hand of 33 runs from 23 runs to ensure that the Women’s Super50 champions remained on course to do the double. Barbados got to 137 for three in 15.3 overs. Anisa Mohammed and Kirby had a wicket each.
Today, T&T will face Jamaica from 9 am while the Leewards will take on the Windwards from 2 pm. Barbados will be hoping to seal the title against Guyana in the late match, starting at 7 pm.
SCORES
T&T 136/6 (20 ov). B. Cooper 31, S. King 30, M. Aguilleira 29*; D. Dottin 2-9, S. Selman 2-18. BAR 137/3 (15.3 ov) D. Dottin 52*, K. Knight 33, K. Knight 28; A. Mohammed 1-22, L. Kirby 1-14.
LI 61 (18.4 ov). T. Parker 18*, M. Howard 10; N Waisome 3-10, V Watts 2-15. JAM 67 (6.4 ov). J. Morgan 30, N. McLean 28*.