The Windward Islands women lost their fourth on a trot to sit bottom of the table in the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze on January 19, falling by seven wickets to Jamaica at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Rubbing salt in the wound, former Windward Islands player Qiana Joseph was named Player of the Match for the Leewards, as they defeated Barbados.
The Windwards, hosts for this year’s regional women’s T20 tournament, got their first taste of action under the lights, with an evening game against Jamaica. Absent captain and West Indies allrounder Zaida James, Jannillea Glasgow again won the toss and elected to bat. Selena Ross returned to the XI, replacing fellow countrywoman Nerissa Crafton.
The Windwards never got going with the bat, struggling to 99-7, their best returns after tallies of 89-5, 79 all out, and 86-8 in their prior matches. Glasgow made 47 off 37 deliveries, inclusive of six fours and a six. Earnisha Fontaine added 21, and Ashlene Edward 11. Celina Whyte conceded just seven runs from her four overs.
Jamaica lost opener Chedean Nation to injury in the second over, with 18 runs on the board. But captain Rashada Williams and Abigail Bryce put together a neat recovery, Williams with 21 and Bryce 23. Experienced international Stafanie Taylor then smashed an unbeaten 28 off 32 balls to carry Jamaica to 100-7 in the 17th over.
The Windwards close their preliminary campaign against the unbeaten Leewards on Wednesday night. The Leewards are fresh off a 31-run win over Barbados, with Saint Lucia’s Joseph hitting 27 off 17 balls, including three fours and two sixes, and taking 2-10 with her slow left arm bowling.
