West Indies U-19 women fall to US in 1st T20

WEST Indies under-19 women's cricket team suffered a 37-run loss versus the US in the first game of a five-match Twenty/20 series at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine on July 20.

In the low-scoring contest, the US made 106 for eight after being sent in by West Indies skipper Samara Ramnath, before restricting the hosts for a paltry score of 69 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

The US slipped to 23 for three inside the power play following early breakthroughs by the West Indies opening bowlers Jahzara Claxton (three for 20) and Selena Ross (three for 12).

The next phase of the game turned out to be crucial, though, as US skipper Anika Kolan (22 off 31 balls) shared in a 43-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Ritu Singh who notched the highest score of the game — 29 off 32 balls.

The pair's partnership ended in the 13th over when off-spinner Erin Deane (one for nine) removed Kolan in her solitary over to leave the visitors on 66 for four.

Singh swiftly followed as she was dismissed by Kenika Cassar (one for 20) in the 16th over with the score on 86 for five. The visitors eventually crawled to 106, with number six batter Isani Vaghela adding a timely 13 off 16 balls before being dismissed by Claxton in the final over.

Similar to their guests, the Windies had a stuttering start and they were reduced to 22 for four in the eighth over as Asabi Callender (five), Naijanni Cumberbatch (two), Claxton (six) and Abigail Bryce (duck) were all dismissed cheaply.

After watching the fall of wickets at the other end, opening batter Ramnath (28 off 40 balls) tried to restore the innings with a 42-run partnership for the fifth wicket with her Trinidad and Tobago compatriot Brianna Harricharan (20 off 33 balls).

The Windies were well behind the required run rate, though, and when Harricharan was dismissed by Maahi Madhavan (two for 13) in the 17th over, the hosts were reduced to 64 four five and still needed 43 runs off the last 19 balls.

The Windies then lost a flurry of wickets at the death, as Aditi Chudasama (four for 12) grabbed all of her four wickets in her last two overs to help bowl her team to the big victory.

West Indies will aim to rebound when the second T20 bowls off from 10 am in St Augustine on July 22.

Summarised Scores:

USA U-19 women — 106/8 (Ritu Singh 29, Anika Kolan 22; Selena Ross 3/12, Jahzara Claxton 3/20) vs WEST INDIES U-19 women — 69/9 (Samara Ramnath 28, Brianna Harricharan 20; Aditi Chudasama 4/12, Maahi Madhavan 2/13). USA won by 37 runs.