Nation half-century brings Jamaica second win

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

THEIR BOWLERS set it up, and their batting, led by Chedean Nation, carried Jamaica Women to a nine-wicket win against Leeward Islands Women in a low-scoring West Indies Women’s Super50 Cup match yesterday in St Kitts.

The 37-year-old discarded West Indies Women’s batsman struck 14 fours in an unbeaten 61 off 29 balls to help the Jamaicans successfully chase 99 to win their second-round match in the 50-overs-a-side tournament at the Conaree Cricket Centre.

Jamaica Women were set back early in the chase when Amanda Edwards bowled Keneshia Ferron for a duck in the second over, but Nation came to the crease and drew on her vast experience to dominate the rest of the proceedings.

She shared an unbroken 93-run stand for the second wicket with West Indies Women’s opener Rashada Williams, not out on 29, and the Jamaicans cruised to their target in 11.2 overs to claim their second successive win in the tournament.

Earlier, Vanessa Watts grabbed three for 15 from 7.1 overs, and former West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor supported with three for 16 from seven overs to dismiss the hosts for 98 in 35.1 overs after they chose to bat.

Former West Indies Women’s wicketkeeper-batsman Reniece Boyce hit the top score of 37 for Leeward Islands Women, but no other batsman reached 20 as the hosts sunk to their second successive loss.

FIVE-RUN WIN

Elsewhere, Guyana Women beat Windward Islands Women by 45 runs at Warner Park and defending double-crown champions Barbados Women rebounded from a first-round humiliation with a nerve-jangling, five-run win against Trinidad & Tobago Women at the St Paul’s Sports Complex.

Shabika Gajnabi led the Guyanese batting with 62 off 105 balls that included only five fours, and fellow West Indies Women’s international Shemaine Campbelle, her captain, supported with 42 to be the cornerstones for their side’s 208 for eight off 50 overs after they were put in to bat.

Steady bowling, led by Plaffianna Millington, Ashmini Munisar, and Nyia Latchman, then stifled the Windwards Women, who were dismissed for 163 in 40.2 overs. Nerissa Crafton led the Windwards’ batting with 47.

Left-handed batting stalwart Kycia Knight defied destructive bowling from West Indies Women’s off-spinner Karishma Ramharack and fellow tweaker Samara Ramnath to hit the day’s top score of 90 off 134 balls, inclusive of seven fours and a six, to lead the Barbadians to a respectable 185 all out in 48.4 overs.

Ramharack ended with four for 20 from 9.4 overs, and Ramnath bagged three for 38 from nine overs after Barbados Women won the toss and chose to bat.

Consistent batting from the top order led by West Indies Women’s batsman Britney Cooper with 34 and Ramnath with 32 appeared to put T&T Women on course to hand their arch-rivals another defeat in the tournament.

But West Indies Women’s pacer Aaliyah Alleyne and long-serving leg-spinner Keila Elliott grabbed two wickets apiece to add to the run outs of stalwarts Lee Ann Kirby and Kirbyina Alexander late in the chase.