T&T hold their nerve to make it two-straight in U19 Women’s Championship
Key Points(5)
- Trinidad and Tobago are quickly establishing themselves as one of the teams to watch in the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Women’s Championship.
- Their second match brought a very different test from their opening victory, but the result was the same.
- T&T held their nerve through a tense chase against Guyana at Liberta Sports Club on Sunday, overcoming a spirited bowling effort to win by three wickets and secure consecutive victories.
- The Trinidad and Tobago bowlers had first done the hard work, restricting Guyana to 79 for 7 from 20 overs.
- The chase then became unexpectedly difficult before Jessica Davis and Brianna Harricharan provided the stability needed to get their team over the line.
Trinidad and Tobago are quickly establishing themselves as one of the teams to watch in the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Women’s Championship.
Their second match brought a very different test from their opening victory, but the result was the same.
T&T held their nerve through a tense chase against Guyana at Liberta Sports Club on Sunday, overcoming a spirited bowling effort to win by three wickets and secure consecutive victories.
The Trinidad and Tobago bowlers had first done the hard work, restricting Guyana to 79 for 7 from 20 overs. The chase then became unexpectedly difficult before Jessica Davis and Brianna Harricharan provided the stability needed to get their team over the line.
T&T eventually reached 80 for 7 after 16.1 overs.
It was not a dominant victory.
It may have been more valuable because of that.
Ramnath leads a relentless bowling display
Having been asked to bowl first, Trinidad and Tobago immediately put Guyana under pressure.
Off-spinner Samara Ramnath was the standout performer, repeatedly disrupting the Guyanese batting lineup on her way to excellent figures of 3 for 20.
The fielders complemented the bowlers with sustained pressure, preventing Guyana from building the partnerships needed to establish a competitive total.
Allia Henry battled her way to a team-high 22, but Guyana never found enough support around her.
By the time the 20 overs were completed, Guyana had reached only 79 for 7 — a total that appeared vulnerable but would prove more troublesome than expected.
Leitch turns the chase into a contest
T&T's pursuit began confidently enough, but Guyana refused to surrender.
Kaiana Leitch became the central figure in the resistance.
Her 3 for 16 ripped through the Trinidadian top order and transformed what appeared to be a straightforward chase into a genuine contest.
By the 11th over, T&T had slipped to 46 for 5.
Suddenly, the pressure was on the favorites to complete the job.
Davis and Harricharan restore calm
With wickets falling and the target still within reach, T&T needed composure more than aggression.
Jessica Davis supplied it.
Her 19 provided an important stabilizing contribution, while Brianna Harricharan added 17 to keep the chase moving and prevent Guyana from tightening its grip.
The pair helped restore enough control for Trinidad and Tobago to navigate the remaining runs.
There was no dramatic finish, just the steady accumulation required to avoid an upset.
T&T finally crossed the line at 80 for 7 after 16.1 overs, completing a three-wicket victory and preserving their unbeaten start.
Barbados deliver a statement
Elsewhere, Barbados Women produced one of the day's most emphatic performances at Bethesda Sports Ground.
The Barbadian attack dismantled Windward Islands Women for only 67 in 14.3 overs, with Zaniyah Bruce virtually impossible to handle.
Bruce returned extraordinary figures of 3 for 2, while Zoe McCallister claimed 2 for 15 as Barbados suffocated the Windwards' innings.
There was little drama in the chase.
Barbados raced to 68 for 1 in just 11.4 overs, with Jadaeya Holder unbeaten on 26 to complete a commanding victory.
Jamaica make short work of Leewards
Jamaica Women also enjoyed a successful outing, although their victory came with far less resistance than T&T encountered.
Leeward Islands Women posted 90 for 4, with Aaliyah Weekes anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 31.
But Jamaica's response was assured.
Teandra Morgan led the chase with a composed 28, while Sashane Ricketts had earlier helped restrict the Leewards with an economical 2 for 8.
Jamaica reached 92 for 4 with two deliveries remaining, securing victory by six wickets.
T&T pass an early test of character
The day's results offered a sharp contrast in styles.
Barbados overwhelmed the Windwards. Jamaica dispatched the Leewards with relative comfort. Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, had to fight for every run against a Guyana side that refused to fold.
That may make T&T's victory particularly significant.
Ramnath's early bowling brilliance gave them control, Leitch's spell nearly wrestled it away, and Davis and Harricharan restored enough stability to finish the job.
Two matches into the tournament, Trinidad and Tobago have two victories, and, after surviving their first real examination of nerve, they are in a strong early position in the championship standings.
