Jamaica Women win T20 Blaze title

Jamaica crushed Leeward Islands to lift the Women’s T20 Blast after defending champions Barbados suffered a shock upset to Trinidad and Tobago in a dramatic first round at the Guyana National Stadium in Guyana last week.

Barbados appeared to have one hand on the trophy after trouncing Jamaica in the battle of the only two teams a week ago in the penultimate round to take possession of the lead.

However, while Jamaica pulled off a 124-run victory in a dominant performance in their final fixture; Barbados slumped to a 19-run defeat -both teams ending on 16 points.

Following an anxious overnight wait on Cricket West Indies’ statisticians, Jamaica were announced as the  new champions courtsey of a superior run rate–2,170 to second place Barbados’ 1,428.

Jamaica executed perfectly, gathering a tournament high 170 for five off their 20 overs with West Indies batter Natasha McLean blasting 83 off 54 balls with nine fours and three sixes and captain Stafanie Taylor, 56 off 51 deliveries with five fours. The pair added 145 four the second wicket after Rashada Williams was run out for six in the fourth over with only 11 runs on the board.

In reply, the Leewards’ challenge never got off the ground, as they were restricted to 46 for 3 off their 20 overs.