Athapaththu’s spin magic powers Barbados Royals to commanding victory
Key Points(5)
- <strong>PROVIDENCE, Guyana –</strong> The Barbados Royals underlined their championship pedigree in the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) with a crushing 59-run victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders on Wednesday.
- It was a performance marked by balance with the bat and brilliance with the ball, highlighted by Chamari Athapaththu’s dazzling four-wicket spell.
- The win keeps the defending champions firmly atop the table, strengthening their reputation as the side to beat this season.
- <h2>Joseph anchors the Royals’ innings</h2> Asked to bat first after Knight Riders captain Chinelle Henry won the toss, the Royals compiled a competitive 137 for 6 on a fresh Providence pitch.
- At the heart of the innings was a commanding knock from left-hander Qiana Joseph, who crafted a composed 63 from 52 deliveries.
PROVIDENCE, Guyana – The Barbados Royals underlined their championship pedigree in the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) with a crushing 59-run victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders on Wednesday.
It was a performance marked by balance with the bat and brilliance with the ball, highlighted by Chamari Athapaththu’s dazzling four-wicket spell.
The win keeps the defending champions firmly atop the table, strengthening their reputation as the side to beat this season.
Joseph anchors the Royals’ innings
Asked to bat first after Knight Riders captain Chinelle Henry won the toss, the Royals compiled a competitive 137 for 6 on a fresh Providence pitch.
At the heart of the innings was a commanding knock from left-hander Qiana Joseph, who crafted a composed 63 from 52 deliveries. She stitched together a 59-run opening stand with Athapaththu, who chipped in with a brisk 14, ensuring the Royals began with a steady platform.
The Knight Riders’ bowlers, however, struck back. Deandra Dottin produced a spirited spell, bowling both Courtney Webb and Captain Henry, and later engineered a sharp run-out of Georgia Redmayne. Her efforts, backed by disciplined support, prevented the Royals from fully accelerating in the middle overs.
Still, Kycia Knight provided a crucial late surge, striking four boundaries in her unbeaten 33, lifting the Royals beyond the 130-run mark.
Athapaththu turns Destroyer-in-Chief
The chase, however, quickly unraveled for the Knight Riders. Their innings faltered to 78 all out in just 15.1 overs, with only opener Lizelle Lee showing resistance through a dogged 39 not out from 44 balls.
The collapse was orchestrated by Athapaththu, who followed her batting contribution with an electrifying spell of 4 for 7 from three overs. Mixing flight and guile, the Sri Lankan star dismantled the middle order and was rightfully named Player of the Match.
She received early support from Sheneta Grimmond, whose double strike in the second over set the tone, removing two top-order batters in successive deliveries.
Knight Riders left searching
The heavy defeat leaves the Knight Riders anchored to the bottom of the table, still hunting for their first victory after two matches. By contrast, the Royals continue to look every inch the title favorites, with depth in both batting and bowling proving decisive once again.
