[Updated] Rodrigues takes dad's advice, sends TKR into WCPL final vs Royals

TRINBAGO Knight Riders (TKR) women's and defending champions Barbados Royals will battle for the Massy Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) crown from 3 pm at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba on August 29, after the former got a stunning four-wicket win against the Royals in the last preliminary match on August 27.

Similar to their previous game against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on August 25, TKR needed a win to stay alive in the competition. Facing a Royals team that had already clinched a spot in the final after winning three straight games in the three-team tourney, it took an unbeaten knock of 59 from Indian allrounder Jemimah Rodrigues, aided by sloppy catching from the opposition, as the hosts clinched the win with just two balls to spare.

Rodrigues was named the Player of the Match for her match-sealing innings, and she credited advice from her father for her dogged effort.

Set a target of 131 for victory after the Royals made 130 for seven, the hosts needed six runs off the last over which was bowled by Windies skipper Hayley Matthews, the leading allrounder in the women's game.

Rodrigues' countrywoman Shikha Pandey was run out off the first ball of the last over, but she held her nerve to play a scoop shot to the fine-leg boundary for four off the third ball of the over, before hitting the winning run off the next ball.

"Getting 131 wasn't easy on this wicket. I just remembered what my dad always told me, 'Jemi, just keep taking it deep, keep taking it deep.'

"When you're there and you're set, you can always chase down any target...I'm just happy we got through to the final from nowhere." the 23-year-old Rodrigues said.

After losing their first two matches, the 2022 champions had their backs against the wall. Rodrigues said the team dug deep.

"It wasn't easy after losing those first two games, but this team has shown so much character...we just kept believing and pushing," she said.

"We're going to just stick to the process, keep doing what we're doing and we'll see the Royals again in the finals."

TKR captain Deandra Dottin, who made a quick-fire 12 to start her team's innings, watched on anxiously from the sideline as her team did the business.

"It's really good to see that it's not only me as the captain scoring runs. There are other players scoring runs as well. Jemimah Rodrigues was outstanding today with the bat," Dottin said.

Having won two must-win matches, Dottin reckons TKR now have the momentum to go all the way.

"We started to approach each game like a final. The game we won against Amazon Warriors was supposed to be the quarter-finals, (this) was the (semi-final) and tomorrow will be the final. We continue to be positive and encourage each other."

Dottin also hailed TKR teenagers Samara Ramnath and Zaida James who have been growing with confidence each game.

Meanwhile, Matthews said her team is undaunted by the defeat and ready to defend their title. "We've played really well," the Bajan said, "We've been pretty convincing for the entire season. Even last night, a few players were rested and we were still able to take the game down to the last over."

The match started perfectly for TKR as Matthews was out caught behind for four off the fifth ball of the match from Pandey (two for 26).

The Royals lost two more wickets in the power play and crawled to 49 for three by the ten-over mark, but an impressive knock of 70 from Sri Lankan allrounder Chamari Athapaththu helped them get to 130.

Sixteen-year-old TKR spinner Ramnath led the attack with two for 20, with seamer Shamilia Connell, who was playing her first game of the tournament, also taking two wickets.

TKR had a fiery start as Dottin helped them take 14 off the first over from Aaliyah Alleyne (one for 28). The hosts began to wobble, though, as Dottin and fellow opener Harshitha Samarawickrama (four) were dismissed in quick succession to leave them on 18 for two in the third over.

Batting at number three, Rodrigues got stuck in for the TKR cause as she shared useful partnerships with Jess Jonassen (11), Chedean Nation (14) and Kycia Knight (17) to bring the hosts within touching distance.

When Knight was dismissed by Alleyne in the 18th over, TKR were placed on 111 for five and still required 20 from 15 balls as Pandey strode to the middle.

Dropped on ten and 43 respectively by the youthful pair of Trishan Holder and Djenaba Joseph, the 23-year-old Rodrigues brought her team closer to the target when she scored eight of the ten runs in the penultimate over which was bowled by Qiana Joseph.

TKR needed six to get off the last over, with Matthews standing in the way.

After Pandey was run out by wicket-keeper Rashada Williams, Rodrigues showed her poise under pressure to send her team into the final.

At the BLCA on August 29, TKR and the Royals will lock horns again in a battle between the 2022 and 2023 WCPL champions.

Summarised scores:

BARBADOS ROYALS: 130/7 from 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 70; Samara Ramnath 2/20, Shamilia Connell 2/25) vs TKR: 131/6 from 19.4 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 59 not out, Kycia Knight 17; C Athapaththu 2/24, Hayley Matthews 1/19). TKR won by four wickets.

This story was originally published with the title "Rodrigues rides luck, sends TKR into WCPL final" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

TRINBAGO Knight Riders (TKR) women's team advanced to the final of the 2024 Massy Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) tournament in dramatic fashion on August 27 when they got a nail-biting four-wicket win over defending champions Barbados Royals with just two balls to spare at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba.

Similar to their previous game against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on August 25, TKR needed a win to stay alive in the competition. Facing a Royals team that had already clinched a spot in the final after winning three straight games in the three-team tourney, it took an unbeaten knock of 59 from Indian allrounder Jemimah Rodrigues and sloppy catching from the opposition to usher the hosts into the August 29 final.

TKR skipper Deandra Dottin won her first toss of the tournament and sent the Royals in to have first strike.

The game started perfectly for TKR as Royals skipper and star player Hayley Matthews was out caught behind for four off the fifth ball of the match from Shikha Pandey (two for 26).

The Royals lost two more wickets in the power play and crawled to 49 for three by the ten-over mark, but an impressive knock of 70 from Sri Lankan allrounder Chamari Athapaththu helped them get to a competitive score of 130 for seven.

Sixteen-year-old TKR spinner Samara Ramnath led the attack with two for 20, with seamer Shamilia Connell, who was playing her first game of the tournament, also taking two wickets.

TKR had a fiery start as Dottin (12) helped them take 14 off the first over from Aaliyah Alleyne (one for 28). The hosts began to wobble, though, as Dottin and fellow opener Harshitha Samarawickrama (four) were dismissed in quick succession to leave them on 18 for two in the third over.

Batting at number three, Rodrigues got stuck in for the TKR cause as she shared useful partnerships with Jess Jonassen (11), Chedean Nation (14) and Kycia Knight (17) to bring the hosts within touching distance.

When Knight was dismissed by Alleyne in the 18th over, TKR were placed on 111 for five and still required 20 from 15 balls as Pandey strode to the middle.

Dropped on ten and 43 respectively by the youthful pair of Trishan Holder and Djenaba Joseph, the 23-year-old Rodrigues brought her team closer to the target when she scored eight of the ten runs in the penultimate over which was bowled by Qiana Joseph.

TKR needed six to get off the last over, with Matthews, the leading allrounder in the women's game, standing in the way.

Pandey was run out off the very first ball of the last over by wicket-keeper Rashada Williams, but Rodrigues showed her innovation when she scooped Matthews to the fine-leg boundary for four off the third ball, before hitting the winning run off the very next ball.

From 3 pm on August 29, TKR and the Royals will lock horns again in a battle between the 2022 and 2023 WCPL champions.

Summarised scores:

BARBADOS ROYALS: 130/7 from 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 70; Samara Ramnath 2/20, Shamilia Connell 2/25) vs TKR: 131/6 from 19.4 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 59 not out, Kycia Knight 17; C Athapaththu 2/24, Hayley Matthews 1/19). TKR won by four wickets.