KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — Trinidad and Tobago Women delivered a dominant performance when it mattered most, overwhelming defending champions Guyana Women by eight wickets in a pivotal T20 Blaze encounter on Monday to significantly enhance their prospects of reaching the final.
The comprehensive victory was built on a ruthless spin assault that dismantled Guyana’s batting line-up before a calm and clinical chase sealed the result with ease.
Spin duo trigger stunning collapse
Leg spinner Shriya Jairam and off spinner Samara Ramnath were the architects of Guyana’s downfall, sharing seven wickets as the defending champions were skittled for a paltry 57 in just 17 overs, the lowest total recorded in this year’s competition.
Guyana showed brief promise through an opening stand of 15 between Sheneta Grimmond and Realeanna Grimmond, but that stability evaporated almost instantly.
Ramnath struck first, trapping Sheneta lbw for one. Two runs later, Anisa Mohammed removed Realeanna, caught after top-scoring with 14. Jairam then took control, bowling Shabika Gajnabi for nine and dismissing Mandy Mangru for a duck as Guyana slid to 28 for four.
She returned to deepen the collapse, removing Ashmini Munisar and Kaysia Schultz to leave Guyana reeling at 40 for seven. Ramnath then wrapped up the tail, completing a comprehensive demolition.
Jairam finished with outstanding figures of four for 11, Ramnath claimed three for 10, and Mohammed supported with two for eight.
Cooper, Joseph finish the job
Chasing a nominal target, Trinidad and Tobago suffered a brief wobble when both openers, Shunelle Sawh and Lee-Ann Kirby, were dismissed for ducks with only two runs on the board.
Any hint of drama quickly vanished as Britney Cooper and Djenaba Joseph assumed control. The pair combined patience with assurance, compiling an unbroken 56-run partnership for the third wicket to guide T&T to 58 for two in 13.2 overs.
Cooper anchored the innings with an unbeaten 29 from 36 balls, while Joseph finished on 27 not out from 37 deliveries, ensuring a stress-free conclusion.
Tournament implications intensify
The result leaves Guyana, now fourth in the standings, with a narrow path to the final. They must defeat second-placed Barbados Women in their final preliminary match on Wednesday and hope Trinidad and Tobago falter against Jamaica Women.
For Trinidad and Tobago, the commanding win keeps them firmly in contention to join Leeward Islands Women in the final, as the T20 Blaze enters its decisive stretch with margins growing increasingly unforgiving.
