Jamaica Women secure regional double

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

Captain Stafanie Taylor fittingly guided Jamaica to the regional Women's T20 Blaze title, when she masterminded their eight-wicket victory over Leeward Islands yesterday.

Chasing 125 in the final round of matches at Warner Park, Jamaica cantered to their target with 10 balls to spare to finish the campaign unbeaten and complete the double, following their success in the Super50 Cup earlier this month.

The 32-year-old Taylor was the architect of the chase, the veteran right-hander carving out a composed unbeaten 48 off 33 deliveries.

Opener Rashada Williams struck 39 from 51 deliveries, while Chedean Nation chipped in with 23 from 25 balls.

Choosing to bowl first in the second game of the final day triple-header, Jamaica restricted the Leeward Islands to 124 for five from their 20 overs with off-spinner Chedean Nation picking up two for 21.

Captain Amanda Edwards top-scored with a fluent 35 from 25 balls, striking four fours and a six, while Divya Saxena lashed 26 from 28 balls with three fours at the top of the order.

Jamaica started strongly when Nation removed Melicia Clarke for three in the third over, getting the right-hander to play on with 15 on the board.

When the innings slipped to 77 for five in the 14th over, Edwards came together in a 47-run, unbroken sixth-wicket partnership with Kimberley Anthony, to steer Leewards away from trouble.

In reply, Jamaica suffered an early setback when Natasha McLean loosely chipped a half-volley from seamer Shawnisha Hector to mid-off to depart for a first-ball 'duck', to the last ball of the opening over.

However, any hopes Leewards harboured of making further inroads were quickly dashed as Williams and Nation posted 35 for the second wicket to ensure a recovery.

When Nation chanced her hand over an ill-advised second run and was run out at the non-striker's end, Taylor took responsibility for the innings, lashing half-dozen fours and a six to inspire an 86-run, third-wicket unbroken stand with Williams.