‘This one’s for Cleon’ - Jamaica women’s cricketers dedicate regional title win to late coach

Jamaica senior women's cricket team head coach Shane Brooks says their championship-winning campaign in the West Indies Women's T20 Blaze is dedicated to former coach Cleon Smith, who passed away in 2020.

Jamaica has been crowned champions with a 124-run win against the Leeward Islands on the final day of the tournament on Tuesday.

There was drama at the Guyana National Stadium, as front-runner Barbados lost to Trinidad and Tobago in the morning match, after which Jamaica sealed their victory. Both Barbados and Jamaica ended with four wins and one defeat to record the same number of points, 16. The winners were then decided on net run rate.

For Brooks, the team's hunger and desire for cricket, plus the added motivation of playing in memory of Smith, brought the win.

"Cleon had pulled this group together for the last two decades, and myself and players had nothing but love and respect for him," Brooks said. "I learnt, by association, a lot from him, and to win my first title as a national coach, it is only fitting to do it in his memory."

Ten-year veteran Natasha McLean led the way for the Jamaicans in their final group game, smashing 83 from 54 balls in Jamaica's total of 170 for five against the Leewards. Captain Stafanie Tylor also chipped in with 56 from 51 balls.

In the post-match interview, Taylor hinted that some senior players could be retiring after the competition.

When asked if Taylor was among those players, Brooks said, "Stafanie has been playing for over 20 years. After doing something for that long, you may have a different mindset. I think she still has the love and passion for Jamaica and West Indies cricket, and I am looking forward to working with her as long as she still has the zeal to play."

The Jamaicans will next turn their attention to the limited-overs format in the West Indies Super 50 Cup when they will face Barbados on Saturday.