An unbeaten half-century from captain Shemaine Campbelle lifted Guyana to a crucial eight-wicket win over defending champions Jamaica in their Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s T20 Blaze match on Thursday morning.
The stylish right-hander made 50 not out with five fours from 49 balls and shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of exactly 100 with allrounder Shakibi Ganjnabi, as the Guyanese successfully chased 110 in the opening match of the triple-header at Warner Park, St Kitts.
Scorecard: https://www.windiescricket.com/matches/216171/#scorecard
Gajnabi supported well with 37 not out from 46 balls and the result was achieved with 12 balls remaining when she pulled a delivery from off-spinner Vanessa Watts into mid-wicket for a single to give Guyana their third win of the tournament. This took them to 12 points and the top of the points table (at the time of writing). Jamaica remained on eight points.
Earlier in the day, fast bowler Celina Whyte took 2-11 from her allotted four overs – removing Sheneta Grimmond for six and fellow opener Katana Mentore for two but Campbelle and Gajnabi combined to dominate.
When Jamaica batted captain Stafanie Taylor led the way again with 48 off 49 balls with five fours and one six, as the Jamaicans reached 109-6 from their 20 overs after they won the toss and chose to bat.
Taylor added 55 for the second wicket with Keneshia Ferron (20) and put on 32 for the third wicket with Natasha McLean (27), but their effort was never going to be enough to seriously challenge Guyana. Seam bowler Cherry-Ann Fraser was the pick of the bowlers with 3-18 from three overs.
The second match of the day is an afternoon encounter between hosts Leeward Islands and Trinidad & Tobago, while Barbados and leaders Windward Islands, will meet in the night match under lights.
MATCH SCHEDULE for CWI T20 Blaze
Round 1: Saturday 20 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Windward Islands vs Guyana – Guyana won by 4 runs
Leeward Islands vs Jamaica – Jamaica won by 8 wickets
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Barbados – T&T Red Force Divas won by 5 wickets
Round 2: Sunday 21 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – Windwards won by 46 runs
Guyana vs Barbados – Barbados won by 3 wickets
Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas – Jamaica won by 6 runs
Round 3: Tuesday 23 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Windward Islands – Windwards won by 7 wickets
Jamaica vs Barbados – Barbados won by 9 wickets
Guyana vs Leeward Islands – Guyana won by 5 wickets
Round 4: Thursday 25 May (all matches played at Warner Park)
Jamaica vs Guyana – Guyana won by 8 wickets
Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas – 2:30 pm
Barbados vs Windward Islands – 7 pm
Round 5: Saturday 27 May – 8 am
Leeward Islands vs Barbados – Warner Park
Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Guyana – St Paul’s
Jamaica vs Windward Islands – Conaree