Matthews, Joseph spin Royals into Women CPL final

HAYLEY MATTHEWS and Qiana Joseph combined to take seven wickets as defending champions Barbados Royals advanced to the 2024 Massy-sponsored Women's Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, which will take place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba on Thursday.

In their third preliminary round match on Monday, at Tarouba, against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Royals prevailed by 17 runs.

The Royals have a 100-percent record of six points from three games, with the Amazon Warriors next on two points (from four games) and the Trinbago Knight Riders, also on two points (from three games).

The Royals will face the Knight Riders on Tuesday, with the Knight Riders looking for a win to guarantee a spot in the title-decider.

On Monday, Matthews took four wickets for 14 runs with her off-breaks and Joseph got 3/16 with her slow left-armers as the Amazon Warriors, who were in pursuit of a victory target of 102, were restricted to 84/9.

Off-spinner Chamari Athapaththu (1/13) and leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington (1/14) were the other wicket-takers for the Royals.

Natasha McLean led the way for the Amazon Warriors with 20, while there were double-figure scores from Erin Burns (18), Ashmini Munisar (14) and captain Lauren Winfield-Hill (12).

Matthews failed with the bat for the first time in this tournament, as she was dismissed for two, but the Royals, who were asked to take first strike, got scores from Joseph (19), Aaliyah Alleyne (18), Athapaththu (15) and Laura Harris (14).

Burns claimed 3/31 with her off-breaks, while pacer Shabnim Ismail had 2/11 and left-arm spinner Chloe Tyron 2/17.

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