KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — Britney Cooper’s composed 46 off 44 balls, highlighted by six crisp fours, laid the foundation for Trinidad and Tobago Women’s 104 for seven in their final T20 Blaze match, setting the stage for a thrilling contest against defending champions Guyana.
Sent in to bat at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, T&T lost early wickets of Shunelle Sawh and Djenaba Joseph, both removed by Ashmini Munisar, leaving the team precariously placed at 31 for two.
Danellie Manns then removed Lee-Ann Kirby and Anisa Mohammed, reducing T&T to 60 for four and giving Guyana the upper hand. Yet, Cooper’s resilience at the crease, combined with Karishma Ramharack’s crucial support, steadied the innings.
Key partnership shifts momentum
The fifth-wicket partnership of 32 runs between Cooper and Ramharack proved pivotal, restoring T&T’s confidence and pushing the team toward a defendable total. Although Ramharack eventually fell for 13, the duo’s effort enabled Trinidad and Tobago to post a score that would prove just enough to claim victory.
Munisar finished with 4-15 for Guyana, while Manns ended with 2-14, highlighting the tight battle between bat and ball throughout T&T’s innings.
Ramharack strikes early as bowlers dominate
Chasing 105 for victory, Guyana struggled to gain momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Ramharack was instrumental in dismantling the top order, claiming openers Realeanna Grimmond and Sheneta Grimmond, while Shalini Samaroo removed captain Shemaine Campbelle for four and Mandy Mangru for five. By the 10th over, Guyana were in trouble at 54 for five.
Shabika Gajnabi and Latoya Williams briefly revived the chase with a 31-run partnership, taking the score to 85 for five, but the resurgence was short-lived. Anisa Mohammed broke the stand by trapping Williams lbw for 13, triggering a collapse that saw Guyana lose four wickets for just four runs and hand T&T a seven-run victory.
Bowling excellence secures the win
T&T’s bowling attack executed their plans with precision under pressure. Ramharack finished with 3-13, Kirby took 2-10, Samaroo claimed 2-16, and Mohammed contributed 2-17. The collective effort ensured that Guyana could never fully recover from the mid-innings collapse, securing third place in the T20 Blaze for Trinidad and Tobago Women.
Cooper and Ramharack’s performances underscored the blend of experience and tactical acumen that allowed T&T to finish the tournament on a high note, demonstrating depth and resilience in both batting and bowling.
