The Reggae Girlz launched their CONCACAF W Qualifiers campaign with a staggering show of firepower, pulverizing Dominica 18-0 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia on Saturday.

Hat-tricks from captain Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Kiki Van Zanten, and Jody Brown headlined a whirlwind performance that left no question about Jamaica’s ambitions.

But behind the avalanche of goals was a theme emphasized repeatedly by both coach and captain: professionalism, standards, and focus.

“The focus the entire week was making sure we got the three points,” said head coach Hubert Busby Jr., framing the lopsided victory as the outcome of a disciplined, businesslike approach. “Credit to the players. They went out there and had a business performance today… led by our captain, Bunny.”

Shaw sets the rhythm as goals pour in

The tone was set almost immediately. With barely two minutes on the clock, former captain Konya Plummer darted onto a clever corner routine and swept home from close range. In that moment, the structure Busby demanded was already visible.

Within sixty seconds, Shaw delivered her captain’s stamp, meeting Jody Brown’s squared pass with a crisp first-time finish to double the lead. Her early strike was emblematic of what she later described as the team’s commitment to consistency and pride.

“Every time we put on the colors it is an honor,” Shaw said. “This is the start of the qualifiers and we wanted to firstly focus on ourselves… I think we had a very professional performance today, and I’m sure the fans and people back home would appreciate it, especially with what they’re going through.”

Moments later, Van Zanten curled in Jamaica’s third after pouncing on a loose ball, before Brown added the fourth, punishing a defensive miscue inside the box. The Girlz were relentless, the tempo irresistible.

Ten before the break as clinical edge returns

From there, the scoreboard surged at dizzying pace.

Atlanta Primus lashed home a low drive through traffic in the 12th minute; Van Zanten struck again in the 21st, courtesy of Shaw’s layoff; Her hat-trick arrived four minutes later from a short corner, her shot taking a deflection on its way in; Brown headed in a pinpoint cross from Naya Cardoza for her brace, and Shaw, always in the right pockets of space, added two more before halftime, completing her own first-half hat-trick with a sharp finish at the near post in the 43rd.

By the interval, Jamaica led 10-0, the match long decided but the standards clearly not.

Busby highlighted that balance between dominance and discipline:
“For the first 15 to 20 minutes it was really good. As the scoreline increases, the level naturally drops off… but we want to play with a certain speed and tempo for 90 minutes. Overall it was a really good performance.”

A second-half surge and new contributors shine

When play resumed, Deneisha Blackwood reignited the scoring with a cool finish six minutes into the half. Though the pace eased for a spell, the closing stages erupted again.

Substitute Shaneil Buckley struck in the 81st after a neat setup from Jaileah McPherson, and within moments Brown completed her hat-trick with an emphatic effort in the 82nd.

The final minutes were a deluge: Natasha Thomas scored twice in rapid succession (86th, 88th); Blackwood added her second in the 89th; Shania Hayles, making her mark in national colors, slotted home during stoppage time, and Buckley capped the night with the last kick of the match for her brace.

It was a finishing burst that reaffirmed the depth Busby praised.

“I’m really pleased with the young ones who came on,” he said. “They understood what was required. Led by our senior group and our captain, the standard has been set… each performance, the players know what’s expected.”

Leadership, identity, and the path ahead

Shaw, returning from a spell away from the national team, underscored that the performance, despite its scoreline, must be viewed through the lens of collective accountability.

“We scored a lot of goals, but we could’ve had more and been more clinical,” she noted. “For me coming in, it’s been a while, so I’m trying to get familiar with the new faces… but as a team there is always room for improvement.”

She also reflected on the privilege of leading a squad shaped by shared responsibility:
“To captain this team… it’s an honor. But we have a lot of leaders within the group. It’s not one person; it’s a collective. We pick each other up when we’re not on it, and commend each other when we are.”

The lopsided win placed Jamaica atop Group B on goal difference, tied on three points with Nicaragua, whom they face next on March 2 in Managua. Busby was clear that the focus turns immediately to that challenge.

“Right now our only focus is Nicaragua,” he said. “We didn’t look past this game… We’ll enjoy this evening, and tomorrow we turn the page. That’s the approach these players have.”

With the top team advancing to the CONCACAF W Championship, and a pathway toward the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Girlz could not have asked for a more emphatic opening statement.

Barbados Pride seized the CG United Super50 Cup title in commanding fashion on Saturday, crushing Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by nine wickets at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando.

The visitors’ dominance began long before the chase, as left-arm duo Joshua Bishop and Dominic Drakes ripped through the home side’s batting line-up to lay the groundwork for a lopsided final.

Bishop struck immediately, justifying the decision to open with spin when he removed Cephas Cooper, stumped for a first-ball duck with the score on nine. Trinidad and Tobago briefly steadied through Amir Jangoo, who produced a few elegant strokes in his 20 off 27 balls before a miscued paddle against spinner Kemar Smith floated straight into wicketkeeper Leniko Boucher’s gloves.

From 75 for two, the innings lurched into freefall. Bishop accounted for Jason Mohammed for 12, then bowled opener Tion Webster for a well-compiled 43, plunging Red Force into trouble at 84 for four. Drakes followed with a dazzling sequence of his own, grabbing a brilliant return catch to dismiss captain Joshua Da Silva, then trapping both Navin Bidaisee and Jyd Goolie leg-before to tighten the noose at 130 for seven.

The resistance crumbled swiftly. Bishop closed with 4-27, Drakes with 4-34, and Red Force were bundled out for a modest 168 in 42.3 overs.

Mayers and Boucher launch a ruthless reply

Needing only 169, Pride captain Kyle Mayers and Boucher produced an onslaught that turned the chase into a procession. They began cautiously, managing just four runs in the opening two overs, but the tempo changed dramatically thereafter.

Mayers ignited the charge by hammering Terrance Hinds for two fours and a six in the third over. Boucher joined the assault moments later, carving Ricky Jaipaul for consecutive boundaries. By the time the pair plundered 31 runs off Joshua James and Goolie across the eighth and ninth overs, the Pride were racing at 74 without loss.

The milestones arrived in quick succession. Mayers reached his 10th List A half-century off just 36 balls, launching Goolie for back-to-back sixes to end the 13th over and push the score to 103 without loss. One ball later, Boucher completed his own sixth List A fifty, turning Yannic Cariah to mid-on for a sharp single.

Boucher falls, but Mayers marches the Pride home

Mayers continued unfazed, introducing new bowler Bidaisee to the contest with two more sixes and a driven four in the 15th over. Boucher’s stay ended soon after: dropped moments earlier at midwicket, he then drove Hinds straight to Joshua James at mid-off, departing for an enterprising run-a-ball 50 that featured nine fours and a six. The breakthrough arrived with the Pride in total command at 122 for one.

A brief rain interruption slowed proceedings but not Barbados’ momentum. Mayers, unmoved and unbothered, was joined by Zachary McCaskie, who played the anchor role with an unbeaten 19 off 48 balls. Together, they saw their side home without further scare, sealing the title at 169 for one in only 29.3 overs and triggering exuberant celebrations in the Pride camp.

Mayers finished with a sparkling 89 not out from 79 deliveries, an innings brimming with seven sixes and six fours, a fitting captain’s performance on a championship afternoon.

ST GEORGE’S – West Indies Under-19 captain Joshua Dorne delivered a gem of an innings on Saturday, crafting a scintillating, unbeaten century to lift his team to a stirring four-wicket victory over England Under-19s in the sixth Youth One-Day International at the National Cricket Stadium.

His commanding 102 not out from 101 balls steered the home side past England’s 221, guiding them to 222 for six in just 38.1 overs, and securing an insurmountable 4-2 advantage in the seven-match series and take control of the cricket series scores. You can bet on matches and secure payments through avenues like bpay casinos.

The chase began with calamity. Zachary Carter fell without scoring in the second over, edging James Minto behind. Moments later, Minto claimed fellow opener Tanez Francis in identical fashion, leaving the hosts wobbling at six for two.

Tilokani’s spark, England’s fightback

Seeking stability, Dorne joined Kunal Tilokani in a crucial 79-run stand that restored order and briefly balanced the contest. Tilokani counterpunched superbly, belting 49 from only 29 deliveries before Manny Lumsden removed him, a dismissal that ignited fresh turbulence.

In quick succession, Shamar Apple departed for one and Jonathan van Lange for a first-ball duck, the sudden collapse leaving the West Indies in peril at 89 for five. England held the ascendancy, and the Windies’ chase hung by a thread.

Dorne and Miller engineer the turnaround

Just when the match seemed to tilt decisively toward the visitors, Dorne found an ideal ally in Matthew Miller. Their 92-run sixth-wicket partnership not only revived the innings but completely transformed the contest. Miller played with assurance and purpose, compiling 43 from 48 balls before being run out, by which time the West Indies had surged to 181 for six and seized control of the match.

The finish was then shaped by a composed Shaquan Belle, whose patient, unbeaten 14 off 34 balls complemented his captain’s brilliance. Together they added an unbroken 41, closing out the victory with calm assurance.

Dorne’s century arrived in emphatic fashion in the 37th over, as he lashed Minto for two boundaries and sprinted a hard-run two to reach three figures. Belle later applied the finishing touch with the winning stroke, sealing a memorable recovery.

Van Lange leads the bowling charge

Earlier, van Lange’s incisive spell of four for 17 restrained England and ensured their total remained within reach. The visitors initially struggled, slipping to 82 for four, before rallying through captain Farhan Ahmed and Joe Moores.

Ahmed crafted a fighting 54 and Moores added a purposeful 42, their 92-run stand lifting England to 198 for five by the 43rd over. When Miller removed Ahmed, van Lange ruthlessly dismantled the tail, claiming Ralphie Albert, Lumsden, and Alex Green in rapid succession to close the innings.

Miller chipped in with two for 15, while Vitel Lawes contributed figures of two for 38.

The seventh and final Youth ODI is scheduled for Monday.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand – West Indies middle-order batsman Kavem Hodge says the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand will demand exceptional mental discipline, as the visitors seek their first series victory on Kiwi soil in more than three decades.

With the opening Test set for December 2, Hodge reflected after the team’s penultimate training session on Saturday, stressing that the series would be decided less by raw ability and more by psychological endurance.

“The most important thing is just the mental aspect. We know when you get to this level everybody has the skill, everybody has the talent, so I think how we gel together as a group and prepare mentally and be ready for the challenge [is important],” Hodge explained.

“We know New Zealand has a really good record at home and that’s something we have to be up to the challenge for, so I think that’s the most important thing, just being ready mentally.”

Warm-up match offers valuable adjustments

Recently recalled after missing the Test series against Australia and India, the 32-year-old made an immediate impression earlier this week with an unbeaten 55 in the team’s lone warm-up match versus a New Zealand XI. Beyond the numbers, he said the match served its purpose by allowing the squad to adjust to conditions drastically different from those in the Caribbean.

“I think most of the time we’ve been here is just about adapting to the conditions. Obviously, it’s different from back in the Caribbean, the pitches have a lot more bounce and the fast bowlers have a lot more seam movement, so it was really good to spend some time in the middle,” Hodge noted.

He praised the collective effort, highlighting crucial time in the middle for the top order and productive spells for the fast bowlers. “I think the guys stood up pretty well; the openers got some time in the middle, and the fast bowlers got a run out, so it’s been pretty good.”

Building a cohesive, battle-ready unit

With New Zealand’s formidable home record looming large, Hodge underscored the need for unity and clarity of purpose. For the West Indies, success will depend on maintaining composure and executing consistently across long, grinding sessions—the essence of Test cricket.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force marched confidently into Saturday’s CG United Super50 Cup final, dismantling the Leeward Islands Hurricanes by eight wickets in their last preliminary encounter at the Queen’s Park Oval.

The dominant victory pushed T&T past Barbados Pride to the top of the table, an ascent aided by the Pride’s abandoned match against the Guyana Harpy Eagles.

While the Red Force can now look ahead to contesting the championship, the Pride are left anxiously scoreboard-watching. Their fate hinges on the outcome of the day/night showdown between the Windward Islands Volcanoes and the Jamaica Scorpions.

Volcanoes still in the hunt

The Volcanoes entered the final round on 17 points, five behind the Red Force and needing a substantial haul to keep their own hopes alive. With a maximum 16 bonus points available, they require at least 13 to leapfrog the Pride and join T&T in the grand finale.

Webster and Jangoo guide a straightforward chase

T&T’s pursuit of 214 never drifted off script. The innings was anchored by commanding half-centuries from Tion Webster and Amir Jangoo, who propelled the hosts to 214 for two in 43.1 overs after a disciplined bowling performance had restricted the Hurricanes to 213.

Webster and Cephas Cooper laid a solid foundation with an 84-run opening partnership before Cooper was bowled by off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall for 28. Jangoo joined Webster and continued the steady advance, adding 88 runs for the second wicket to choke off any Leeward Islands fightback.

Webster appeared poised to guide his team across the finish line before edging left-arm seamer Nathan Edward for 83 from 117 deliveries, an innings laced with 10 fours and one six. Unfazed, Jangoo closed out the match with Jyd Goolie, adding an unbroken 42 for the third wicket. Jangoo ended unbeaten on 72 from 85 balls, peppered with eight boundaries, while Goolie contributed a brisk 23 not out from as many balls.

Jaipaul and Hinds break the Hurricanes’ backbone

Earlier, the Red Force attack had struck with precision and power. Pacers Ricky Jaipaul and Terrence Hinds shared six wickets to dismantle the Hurricanes’ top and middle order.

Hinds drew first blood, removing Kofi James for eight, then adding Carlon Bowen-Tuckett (5) and Mikyle Louis (13) to leave the visitors tottering at 31 for three. Captain Karima Gore attempted to mount a recovery with a gritty 39, while wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton’s 71 revived the innings. Cornwall chipped in with 20, but the Hurricanes never found sustained momentum.

Jaipaul extinguished hopes of a late surge by dismissing Hamilton, Jewel Andrew, and Cornwall to finish with an impressive 3-32. Hinds completed his haul with 3-50, ensuring T&T had a manageable target on a placid surface.

West Indies Women’s firebrand all-rounder Chinelle Henry saw her value surge on Thursday, fetching an impressive US$150,000 as the Delhi Capitals snapped her up in the opening round of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) mega auction.

The 30-year-old Jamaican’s price tag, 1.3 crore, placed her in a tie with India’s Shree Charani as the fifth-highest purchase of the round.

Released by the UP Warriorz ahead of the auction, Henry watched anxiously from afar before learning that she would be returning to the league in grand style.

‘Lost for words’: Henry reacts to life-changing call

Speaking moments after her name was announced, Henry admitted to a whirlwind of emotion.

“I have to be honest, I was really, really nervous and excited, but I guess I can breathe now,” she said in a video message. “I’m really happy to be headed back to India and to be a part of the DC family. I’m literally lost for words.

“…I have to say that I’m honestly a bit surprised but at the same time really happy. So again, it feels good to be going back to India for my second season in the WPL, so see you guys soon.”

Her acquisition makes her the second West Indian confirmed for next year’s WPL, joining Hayley Matthews, who is set to represent the Mumbai Indians.

A rising portfolio of performances

Henry’s growing demand reflects a strong run of form across the global women’s circuit. Currently in Australia representing Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League, she stepped into a leadership role earlier this year, guiding the Barbados Royals to a third straight Women’s Caribbean Premier League title while deputizing for an injured Matthews.

She first appeared in the Women’s IPL as an injury replacement for Alyssa Healy last season, quickly showcasing her value. In seven matches, she tallied 163 runs and took six wickets, highlighted by a blistering tournament strike rate of 196.39, despite registering only one half-century.

Ready for a second act

With the 2025 WPL beginning on January 4, Henry now prepares for a new chapter in Delhi’s colors. Her blend of power, versatility, and leadership experience positions her as a significant asset as the Capitals strengthen their push for the title.

LINCOLN, New Zealand — On a day when the result seemed all but predetermined, pacer Johann Layne injected life and purpose into the West Indies’ final warm-up outing, claiming three wickets in an impressive burst at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval.

The two-day contest against a New Zealand XI drifted to a predictable draw on Thursday, but not before Layne and his seam-bowling counterparts issued a timely reminder of their potency.

Early strikes create early turbulence

Resuming with a declaration on their overnight 346 for five, the visitors made immediate inroads with the ball. Senior seamer Kemar Roach struck early, removing Scott Janett, before Anderson Phillip followed up by dismissing Jesse Frew to leave the home side wobbling at four for two.

Layne soon joined the assault. He prised out Sam Cassidy for 28, tightening the screws further as New Zealand XI slumped to 45 for three.

Paul and Abbas resist, but not for long

The hosts mounted a spirited counterpunch through a 126-run stand between Cam Paul, who compiled a polished 91, and Muhammad Abbas with a well-crafted 61. Their partnership steadied the innings and momentarily blunted the West Indies’ momentum.

But Layne returned to break the resistance. First he had Abbas caught behind, then, four balls later, dismantled Marco Alpe for a duck in identical fashion, sharply swinging the pendulum back in the tourists’ favour at 171 for five.

Spin steps in to finish the job

With the breakthrough secured, the West Indies spin attack applied the finishing touches. Kavem Hodge and Jomel Warrican combined for four wickets, two each, as the remaining batters folded, closing the innings at 264 in 73.4 overs.

Layne emerged as the standout with figures of 3-33 from nine probing overs. Hodge followed with 2-32, Warrican with 2-45, while Roach, Phillip, and Roston Chase all chipped in with one wicket apiece.

A useful workout ahead of bigger battles

Though the match fizzled out in expected fashion, the West Indies will depart Lincoln buoyed by a disciplined bowling performance, particularly from Layne, whose aggression and control provided the warmest hint of form as the Test series beckons.

England Men’s Under-19s staged a spirited fightback in Grenada on Thursday, clinging to their Youth ODI series hopes with a gripping two-wicket victory over the West Indies U19s in the fifth match of the seven-game contest.

The triumph, sealed with just an over to spare, owed everything to a towering opening stand from Ben Dawkins and Isaac Mohammed, whose fearless stroke play set the tone for a chase of 276 for nine.

A partnership of purpose: 151 runs that changed the script

The Young Lions’ reply roared to life through Dawkins and Mohammed, who stitched together a commanding 151-run partnership that disarmed the hosts and kept England well ahead of the rate. Mohammed’s 74 was a blend of composure and controlled aggression, punctuated by five soaring sixes. Dawkins, once again England’s picture of consistency, was agonizingly denied a century when he fell for 97, an innings lined with nine fours and three sixes.

The opener’s dismissal, adjudged caught behind off Jakeem Pollard after a tentative appeal, triggered a flurry of wickets that momentarily restored belief for the home side.

Lower order holds its nerve

But when the pressure tightened, England’s lower order showed clarity and calm. Luke Hands and Manny Lumsden, who had earlier delivered with the ball by taking two wickets each, returned to finish the job with ice-cold assurance. Their decisive contribution, 13 runs carved from the penultimate over, dragged England across the line and injected fresh life into the series.

Series back in the balance

The victory carries extra weight given the heartbreak England suffered earlier in the tour, having lost the first two matches in the final over. Now, with the series delicately poised at 3-2 in favor of the West Indies, the sixth Youth ODI on Saturday sets the stage for another gripping showdown.

SANTIAGO, Chile — President of the Jamaica Paralympic Association (JPA), Christopher Samuda, delivered a forceful reminder to global sports and development leaders recently, declaring that “capital likes a haven and avoids risks over which it has no control.”

His remarks came during an international forum hosted through a collaboration between UNESCO and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), bringing together government ministers, high-level sporting officials, and major global investors for discussions on inclusive sport, physical education, and long-term funding models.

Defining the fundamentals of investor confidence

Addressing the gathering, Samuda underscored that attracting sustainable capital into sport depends on more than on-field excellence. It requires, he said, “a strong corporate governance culture, a transparent financial framework and an appetite to give the investor bang for the buck and an experience in sport.”

In an era where sponsorship dollars are fiercely contested and the costs of sports administration continue to rise, Samuda urged stakeholders to adopt a more evolved investment mindset, one anchored in credibility, accountability, and deliberate value creation.

Strategic investment: Human capital, momentum, and sustainability

Samuda highlighted three pillars that he believes should inform modern sports investment:

• Human capital development, which inspires confidence and fosters trust in professional competencies.
• “Momentum investment,” which leverages competitive successes to build commercial appeal and drive revenue.
• Sustainable, long-term partnerships with corporate entities and broader community stakeholders, ensuring stability beyond a single competition cycle.

These elements, he argued, are essential for securing not only funding, but enduring partnerships that benefit athletes, institutions, and national sports programs.

A call for a Santiago declaration

In a compelling appeal, Samuda encouraged delegates to transform dialogue into action, expressing hope that the forum would result in “the Santiago Declaration of deliverables”, a tangible roadmap for governments, the United Nations, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the African and European Unions, and other key bodies.

Such a document, he said, would move the conversation from aspiration to decisive implementation.

Jamaica positioned as regional paralympic hub

The JPA and CAF are currently engaged in bilateral negotiations on a landmark investment: the creation of a Paralympic high-performance competition and training center in Jamaica.
The proposed facility would serve athletes across the Caribbean, including Olympic programs, and would further establish Jamaica as the designated hub for Paralympic development in the region.

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz are set to begin their Concacaf W Qualifiers on Saturday against Dominica at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, and head coach Hubert Busby Jr. says his squad has arrived in excellent condition and with the right mindset for the task ahead.

“First and foremost, it starts with the players arriving in a good condition and in a good way,” Busby explained. “We’re very happy in the timely manner that they were able to arrive into camp and we were able to hit the ground running from day one.”

He noted that both the mood and the professionalism displayed in training have impressed him, setting the tone for a disciplined and focused start to the campaign.

Veteran leadership drives standards

Busby credited several senior players for immediately establishing high standards within the group and helping younger teammates understand the magnitude of World Cup qualifying.

“The attitude from the group has been spot on. I credit a lot, obviously, to the players in leadership group who set the tone, and we’re able to carry on throughout the week from there,” he said.

He added that many of the newer players, having now been part of the setup for several months, are no longer learning the demands of international football, they are meeting and surpassing them.

“They’re coming into an environment where they now know what the standard is,” he said, acknowledging their growing confidence and commitment.

Favorite status comes with pressure

As the Caribbean’s top-ranked women’s team and a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier, Jamaica enter the opening fixture as overwhelming favorites, an honor Busby knows also carries its burdens.

“The standard continues to get better within the region. They’re an emerging nation, but we’re a country and a programme that respects everyone,” he said of Dominica.
He warned that World Cup qualifiers demand focus, no matter the disparity on paper.

“They’ll be up for the match and we’re wearing the crown that a lot of people want to knock off within the Caribbean Football Union.”

Dominica ready to challenge the regional heavyweights

Despite the odds, Dominica head coach Ronnie Gustave insists his team is eager to confront the Caribbean powerhouse head-on.

“Football is played on the pitch and on the day, anything is possible,” Gustave declared.
He stressed that unity and discipline, not star power, will define Dominica’s performance.

“The most important thing is to stay as a team, stay focused and play for one another… It is not about ‘I’ but it is a collective effort from each and every body to play their role and play their role to the best of their abilities.”

Group stakes and the road ahead

Nicaragua currently lead Group B after a 4-0 victory over Antigua and Barbuda, making Jamaica’s opener even more critical in the race for the sole group spot in the Concacaf W Championship.

That tournament will determine the region’s qualifiers for both the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The top four teams will advance to the World Cup, while the top three earn Olympic berths. The next two sides will move to intercontinental play-offs for another chance at World Cup qualification.