BARBADOS ROYALS completed a successful defence of their Women Caribbean Premier League (Women CPL) crown on Thursday after registering a four-wicket victory over Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2024 final, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad.
In a low-scoring affair, the Knight Riders were restricted to a score of 93 runs for eight wickets and the Royals, in response, reached 94/6 off 15 overs.
As has been the case in this entire tournament, the team who won the toss decided to field first and the Royals decided to follow that trend in the title-decider.
Player of the Match, pacer Aaliyah Alleyne, took four wickets for 21 runs and skipper Hayley Matthews, who was eventually named as the Player of the Tournament, got 2/13 with her off-spin as the Knight Riders batters struggled to form any consistency on a slow-paced wicket.
Shikha Pandey was the top-scorer for the Knight Riders with 28 (two fours) and Jannillea Glasgow contributed 24 (three fours) - each faced 31 balls.
The Royals had a wobble in the middle overs, as they lost five wickets for 21 runs, in the space of 3.2 overs. However, opener Chamari Athapaththu made an unbeaten 39 (47 balls, seven fours) to guide the Royals past the finish line.
Off-spinner Samara Ramnath claimed 2/18 for the Knight Riders.
There was an unfortunate incident during the run-chase as veteran pacer Shamilia Connell suffered a right ankle injury while attempting a leaping catch, at long-on, off a shot from Laura Harris. Connell will now be in a race to be fit for the forthcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, which will be contested in the United Arab Emirates in October.
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