Team Saint Lucia put on another impressive performance to capture this season’s 2023 Windward Islands Senior Women 50-Overs Cricket Tournament, following a nine-wicket victory over Dominica at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Wednesday (April 12).
West Indies debutant and Windward Islands player, Zaida James’ impressive half-century was instrumental in setting up a splendid victory for the home team.
Coming in after the early dismissal of the in-form Namiah Marcellin, James hit an aggressive 51 (48) with 8×4, 1×6. In the process, Zadia was the dominant partner in an unbroken 84-run second-wicket partnership with skipper Malika Edward who scored 24 (38) with 3×4, 1×6.
James, the wily all-rounder, survived chances from consecutive deliveries from right-arm off-spinner Amiah Gilbert towards the end of her innings. However, Zadia took on the challenge and her performance proved to be pivotal in Saint Lucia’s chase and her dominance against the three spinners used by Dominica, ensured an early finish to the encounter.
Earlier, after winning the toss, Dominica decided to bat, but a disastrous innings saw them being all out for 91 in 35.2 overs. There were two run outs by the time the innings was in its 7th over, and Dominica virtually never recovered from indecisive running between the wickets.
Two more run-outs followed, including that of Abini St. Jean 13, who supported skipper Pearl Etienne 43(89) in a fourth-wicket stand of 36 off 71 deliveries. No other batter came close to double figures.
Dominica found runs difficult to come by against left-arm spinners, James and Qiana Joseph, who bowled in tandem and leaked just 41 runs from their combined 20 overs, with each picking up a wicket.
Medium pacer, Nesha Alexander, bowling for the first time in the tournament, was Saint Lucia’s most successful bowler with 2 / 6 (3overs).
Final Scores:
Dominica Senior Women – 91 all out in 35.2 overs.
St. Lucia Senior Women – 92 for 1 in 14.3 overs.
Result: Saint Lucia won by 9wickets.
At the Gros Islet Playing Field, St Vincent & The Grenadines (SVG) ended the three-day tournament in second position when they defeated Grenada by 101 runs.
Taking first knock, SVG were bowled out for 228 in 41.4 overs. Kimone Homer, the opening batter top-scored with a boundary-filled 75 (71), 4×14, 1×6.
Homer shared partnerships of 63 with Cordel Jack (14) for the second-wicket, and 67 with Nyasha Durrant (21) for the fifth-wicket before she was dismissed in the 27th over with the total on 157.
Late contributions from Jenna Frederick 26 (52), Schey-Ann Gaymes 10 (16), and Annica Westfield 19 (25) and 52 extras added to the score.
For Grenada, captain, Afy Fletcher, picked up 3/ 23 (10 overs); while the other wicket-takers were Taylor Dickson 3 / 54, Dellisha Francois 2 / 38 and Carena Noel 1 / 37.
Grenada’s reply started off strongly with an opening stand of 83 between Anisha Thomas (37) and Rachael Francis (37) before off-spinner Cordel Jack turned things around. Jack, who had taken a five-wicket haul at that venue against Dominica, continued her exploits to grab 6/28 (8.3overs) leading to Grenada’s dramatic collapse from 122/ 3 to 127 all out; Jannellia Glasgow chipped in with 2 / 25.
Fletcher was the top contributor with 22.
Final Scores:
SVG Senior Women – 228 all out in 41.4 overs.
Grenada Senior Women -127 all out in 25.3 overs.
Result: SVG won by 101 runs.