T&T Women lift Rising Stars title

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Trinidad and Tobago Women are the newly crowned champions of the CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Women’s Championship after defeating defending champions Barbados Women by six wickets in an exciting final on Saturday.

The victory capped a flawless campaign for T&T, who won all six of their matches and beat Barbados for the second time in as many days. Jamaica Women secured third place with a five-wicket win over Leeward Islands Women, while Guyana Women finished fifth after crushing Windward Islands Women by 64 runs.

At Coolidge Cricket Ground, Trinidad and Tobago Women confirmed that Friday’s preliminary-round win over Barbados was no fluke, strolling to another composed six-wicket victory to lift their first title since 2022.

Sent in to bat, Barbados produced a more competitive effort this time, posting 104 for five from their 20 overs. T&T then survived a few anxious moments before reaching 105 for four with six balls to spare.

The chase began shakily when captain Samara Ramnath fell early with just eight runs on the board. But Amrita Ramtahal and Seraiah Kawalsingh steadied the innings with a 57-run stand for the second wicket, seemingly putting T&T on course for a comfortable finish.

Barbados’ talisman Zaniyah Bruce then intervened, removing Kawalsingh for 27 off 41 balls and Ramtahal for a top score of 29 from 34 deliveries, triggering a slide to 79 for three in the 15th over.

Brianna Harricharan added a brisk 18 off 14 balls, striking three fours before being run out by Bruce, leaving T&T at 93 for four in the 18th over and setting up a tense finish.

With Barbados still sniffing an unlikely comeback – 11 runs needed from the final two overs – Jannah Mohammed settled the contest. She struck two boundaries off Sabriel Headley in the penultimate over to seal the win and spark jubilant celebrations among the Trinidadian camp.

Bruce was Barbados’ best bowler with 2–18 from her four overs.

Earlier, Bruce struck an unbeaten 30 from 25 balls, while tournament leading run-scorer Eboni Brathwaite made 27. Once Sameera Naidoo removed Brathwaite at 50 for three in the 10th over, Barbados lost momentum. T&T’s bowlers kept a tight grip, conceding only 39 runs in the final seven overs – leaving Barbados about 20 short of an ideal total. Naidoo finished with excellent figures of 3–18.

At Coolidge Cricket Ground, Jamaica Women capped a commendable tournament by thumping Leeward Islands Women by five wickets.

The Leewards’ decision to bat first backfired as Jamaica’s disciplined attack restricted them to 69 for eight. Only captain Aaliyah Weekes (18) and opener Zara Skerritt (12) reached double figures. Jamaica captain Adanya Baugh used five bowlers, all but one taking a wicket, with Baugh herself returning 2–21.

Despite the modest target, Jamaica stumbled to 37 for five as Leanga Warner and Weekes claimed two wickets apiece. But Baugh, with a crucial unbeaten 10, joined Nicoya Green in a steady 33-run partnership to guide their side home. The Leewards hurt their own chances by conceding a costly 31 extras. Warner ended with 2–13 and Weekes with 2–17.

At Liberta Sports Ground, Guyana Women avoided finishing at the bottom by crushing Windward Islands Women by 64 runs.

Guyana posted 100 for seven, boosted by 30 extras from the Windwards. Opener Jada Fraser and number-three batter Briana Samaroo both scored 23. Ammie Antoine (2–13) and Daisy Woods (2–16) were the pick of the Windwards’ bowlers.

The Windwards then collapsed to a miserable 36 all out in 14 overs, producing one of the tournament’s most lopsided batting displays.