Taylor guides Jamaica to T20 title
Captain Stafanie Taylor guided Jamaica to capture the Women’s T20 Blaze title, with an eight-wicket victory over Leeward Islands at Warner Park in St. Kitts.
In pursuit of 125 in the final match, Jamaica sprung to their target with ten balls to spare completing the double, following their success in the Super50 Cup last month.
Veteran right-hander, 32-year-old Taylor produced an unbeaten 48 off 33 deliveries. Opener Rashada Williams struck 39 from 51 deliveries while Chedean Nation supported with 23 from 25 balls.
Putting Leeward Islands in to bat first, Jamaica restricted the Leeward team 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.
Nation removed Melicia Clarke for three in the third over, with 15 on the board.
The innings slipped to 77 for five in the 14th over, then Edwards joined Kimberley Anthony (17 not out) in a 47-run, unbroken sixth wicket partnership to take Leewards out of trouble.
In reply, Jamaica suffered an early setback when Natasha McLean departed for a first-ball “duck” from seamer Shawnisha Hector, in the last ball of the opening over.
Williams and Nation then posted 35 for the second wicket to ensure a recovery. But Nation was run out at the non-striker’s end after going for a second run.
Taylor then joined in and took responsibility for the innings carrying her team across the finish line, lashing six fours and a six in an 86-run, third wicket partnership with Williams.
