T&T end Barbados’ reign and claim Rising Stars U-19 crown

Trinidad and Tobago Women have reclaimed their place at the summit of regional Under-19 cricket, dethroning defending champions Barbados Women by six wickets in a tense CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Women's Championship final on Saturday.

The victory at Coolidge Cricket Ground completed a remarkable tournament for T&T, who won all six of their matches and capped their unbeaten campaign by defeating Barbados for the second consecutive day.

It was also their first Rising Stars Under-19 Women's Championship title since 2022.

Barbados had arrived as defending champions and had hoped to reverse Friday's heavy preliminary-round defeat, but T&T again proved too strong when the trophy was at stake.

Barbados finds a way to fight back

Unlike Friday's one-sided encounter, when T&T won by 84 runs, the final developed into a far more competitive contest.

Asked to bat first, Barbados recovered from early setbacks to post 104 for five from their 20 overs.

Zaniyah Bruce provided the innings' backbone, striking an unbeaten 30 from 25 balls, while Eboni Brathwaite added 27 to help Barbados establish a defendable total.

Yet T&T's bowlers prevented the defending champions from building the kind of late surge that could have transformed the match.

Sameera Naidoo removed Brathwaite in the 10th over with Barbados on 50 for three, and from there the innings lost momentum.

The Barbadian batters managed only 39 runs during the final seven overs, leaving their team approximately 20 runs short of what would have been an ideal total.

Naidoo was the standout bowler, finishing with three wickets for 18 runs from her four overs.

T&T chase with Nerves and Purpose

The target of 105 appeared manageable, but Barbados made the champions work for it.

T&T captain Samara Ramnath was dismissed early with only eight runs on the board, creating an opening for Barbados.

Amrita Ramtahal and Seraiah Kawalsingh responded impressively, putting together a 57-run second-wicket partnership that appeared to be carrying T&T comfortably toward victory.

Then Bruce changed the mood.

The Barbados all-rounder struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Kawalsingh for 27 from 41 balls before removing Ramtahal, who top-scored with 29 from 34.

Suddenly, T&T had slipped to 79 for three in the 15th over.

The defending champions sensed an opportunity.

Barbados pushes the final to the wire

Brianna Harricharan appeared to restore control with an aggressive 18 from 14 balls, including three fours.

But she was run out by Bruce, leaving T&T at 93 for four in the 18th over.

With 11 runs still required from the final two overs, the championship was genuinely in doubt.

One more breakthrough could have placed Barbados within touching distance of a stunning turnaround.

Instead, Jannah Mohammed stepped forward.

Facing Sabriel Headley in the penultimate over, Mohammed found the boundary twice, producing exactly the decisive intervention T&T needed.

The two fours ended the contest and unleashed celebrations among the Trinidad and Tobago players and support staff.

T&T finished on 105 for four with six balls remaining.

Bruce was Barbados' leading bowler, taking two wickets for 18 runs from four overs, but her efforts ultimately could not prevent the defending champions from surrendering their crown.

Jamaica secures third place

Earlier, Jamaica Women finished third after defeating the Leeward Islands Women by five wickets in a commanding performance.

The Leeward Islands chose to bat first after winning the toss but struggled against a disciplined Jamaican attack, reaching only 69 for eight from their 20 overs.

Captain Aaliyah Weekes led the way with 18, while opener Zara Skerritt contributed 12.

Jamaica's captain Adanya Baugh used five bowlers, and all but one claimed at least one wicket.

Baugh led the attack with two for 21.

Leeward Islands create their own opening

Despite the modest target, Jamaica's chase briefly became uncomfortable.

Leanga Warner and Weekes each claimed two wickets as Jamaica stumbled to 37 for five, suddenly giving the Leeward Islands an unlikely opportunity.

Baugh then produced the calm required to finish the job.

She remained unbeaten on 10 and combined with Nicoya Green in an unbroken 33-run partnership that carried Jamaica across the line.

The Leeward Islands' cause was also undermined by 31 extras, which made a significant contribution to Jamaica's total.

Warner finished with two for 13, while Weekes took two for 17.

Guyana avoids the wooden spoon

At Liberta Sports Ground, Guyana Women produced the most emphatic victory of the day's matches, defeating the Windward Islands Women by 64 runs to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings.

Guyana posted 100 for seven from 20 overs after Jada Fraser and number three batter Briana Samaroo each scored 23.

The total was also helped substantially by 30 extras conceded by the Windward Islands.

Ammie Antoine, with two for 13, and Daisy Woods, with two for 16, were the Windward Islands' leading bowlers.

What followed was a dramatic batting collapse.

The Windward Islands were dismissed for just 36 in 24 overs, with no batter scoring more than five.

Guyana's 17 extras were actually the largest individual contribution to the innings.

After reaching 22 for three, the Windward Islands lost their final seven wickets for only 14 runs over a 10-over stretch.

Guyana's bowlers complete the rout

Sowanna Booker produced the outstanding bowling figures of the tournament's closing day, taking three wickets for just one run.

Shenesa Thomas claimed three for nine, while Christina Jackson added two for 18 as Guyana completed the 64-run victory.

The result ensured Guyana finished fifth.

A new champion takes center stage

The championship belonged unequivocally to Trinidad and Tobago.

Six matches brought six victories, culminating in consecutive wins over the reigning champions and a final that demanded composure after Barbados threatened to turn the contest around.

T&T's bowlers restricted Barbados to 104.

Ramtahal and Kawalsingh provided the platform in the chase.

Bruce's double strike briefly shifted the momentum.

Then Mohammed produced the decisive finish.

For Barbados, the title defense ended one step short.

For Jamaica, third place provided a strong finish to the tournament.

And for Trinidad and Tobago, the final whistle marked the completion of an unbeaten championship campaign and the return of the Rising Stars Under-19 Women's crown to their hands for the first time since 2022.