PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The curtain came down on the Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship in exhilarating fashion on Saturday, as Barbados secured the coveted title with a commanding seven-wicket victory over the Leeward Islands in a rain-interrupted final at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex.
Despite a spirited fightback from the Leewards, the Barbadian side’s disciplined bowling attack and composed batting display ultimately sealed the championship in a contest shortened by weather but not lacking in intensity.
Bowling brilliance: Barbados breaks Leewards’ backbone
Barbados asserted early dominance with the ball, dismantling the Leewards for just 93 runs in 23.3 overs. Though Jahzara Claxton’s 28 and Aliyah Weekes’ 20 hinted at a resistance, their efforts were short-lived.
The real damage was done by the relentless duo of Theanny Herbert-Mayers, whose 3-15 stifled any scoring momentum, and Naijanni Cumberbatch, who snatched 3-33 to tear through the heart of the innings.
DLS drama: Barbados stay cool to chase the crown
Rain delays meant the Barbadian side faced a revised DLS target of 69, which they chased down confidently, ending at 72 for 3 in just 12.2 overs. A swift 14 from Asabi Callender set the tone, while Elecia Bowman’s unbeaten 13 anchored the innings to safety.
Jahzara Claxton attempted to swing the tide back in Leeward Islands’ favor with 2 for 26, but the damage had already been done. Barbados celebrated a clinical win to lift the Rising Stars trophy.
T&T survive final-ball thriller to edge Jamaica in third-place clash
At the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, Trinidad and Tobago snatched a heart-stopping one-wicket victory over Jamaica, surviving a dramatic lower-order collapse.
Jamaica, led by an inspired 62 from captain Abigail Bryce, posted a respectable 117. But the hosts were relentless in reply, thanks to Brianna Harricharan’s 4-15 and Keira Superville’s 2-2, which put the brakes on the scoring.
Despite reaching 118 for 9, T&T were left clinging to victory by their fingertips. Heroic cameos from Amitha Ramtahal (16) and Harricharan (15) proved decisive, with the final run coming off the last ball of the 35th over in a breathless finish.
Gilbert’s five-fer and Blitz fire Windwards past Guyana
At the National Cricket Centre, Windward Islands delivered the most lopsided victory of the day, crushing Guyana by 10 wickets in a contest that barely got off the ground.
Guyana never found their footing, tumbling to a paltry 51 all out, undone by a searing spell from Amiah Gilbert, who tore through the lineup with 5 for 12.
Gilbert then returned with bat in hand, hammering an unbeaten 42 from 29 deliveries, as the Windwards galloped to 53 without loss in just 8.2 overs, putting the finishing touch on a dominant all-round display.
Final reflections: Rising Stars shine bright across the region
From rain-soaked resilience to edge-of-seat thrillers and crushing displays of firepower, the 2025 Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship proved to be a celebration of emerging Caribbean talent. Barbados’ composed title triumph, Trinidad and Tobago’s nerve-wracking last-ball win, and the Windward Islands’ unrelenting dominance each wrote a different chapter in a tournament that promises a bright future for women’s cricket in the region.
