Matthews guides Royals to one-wicket win over Amazon Warriors

HAYLEY MATTHEWS led from the front as the Barbados Royals eked out a one-wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Wednesday evening, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad, as the 2024 Women Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) bowled off.

Sent in to bat first, the Amazon Warriors were restricted to a score of 118 runs for the loss of nine wickets and the 2023 champs Royals, in response, reached 119/9 with one ball remaining.

Matthews, the Royals and West Indies captain, stood firm from the first ball to the last, with an unbeaten 61 (58 balls, seven fours) and got good support from Qiana Joseph, who was the only other batter to reach double figures for the Royals, with 24 (20 balls, three fours). Matthews and Joseph featured in a vital fifth-wicket stand of 42.

Veteran South African fast bowler Shabnim Ismail was the main wicket-taker for the Amazon Warriors with four wickets for 16 runs.

Earlier, ex-Amazon Warriors and WI skipper Stafanie Taylor struck 38 (36 balls, four fours and a six) while Shemaine Campbelle (16), Erin Burns (15), Natasha McLean (11) and captain Lauren Winfield-Hill (10) played useful knocks for the 2023 runners-up.

Pacer Aaliyah Alleyne took 3/21 for the Royals while left-arm spinner Joseph took 2/14. Off-spinner Matthews and leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington claimed identical figures of 2/19.

Matthews was named as the Player of the Match.

Action continues on Thursday with the Royals facing Trinbago Knight Riders. All matches will take place at Tarouba

---

The Caribbean Cricket Podcast is on Facebook and of course you can also find us on X and Instagram.

If you'd like to support the Caribbean Cricket Podcast you can become a patron for as little as £1/$1 etc a month - Here

You can also find out more about Caribbean Cricket Podcast at www.caribbeancricketpodcast.com