Cooper, Anisa help Red Force women get 1st Super50 win

Trinidad and Tobago women notched their first win of the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup after getting past Leeward Islands by four wickets at Conaree Sports Club in St Kitts on February 26.

A solid 89-run partnership from Britney Cooper (72) and former West Indies spinner Anisa Mohammed (32), partnered with a quick-fire, unbeaten knock of 41 from Lee-Ann Kirby saw TT rebound after losing their opener against Jamaica.

TT rallied to 190/6 from 47.3 overs, in reply to Leewards 188 all out from 45.3 overs.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Leewards lost both openers Felicia Clarke (11) and Qiana Joseph (nine) with just 36 runs on the board. However, new batters Reniece Boyce (76) and Divya Saxena (32) combined for a well-worked 60-run partnership before left-arm orthodox Steffie Soogrim had Saxena caught by Cooper.

Shawnisha Hector (35) joined Boyce in the middle and the pair pushed Leewards to 160 after 37 overs. TT off-spinner Samara Ramnath broke the crucial partnership as she had Hector edging to wicketkeeper Shunelle Sawh.

Boyce continued to show resistance to TT’s bowling attack, but lost partners consistently. Only 28 runs came from the remaining batters as right-arm fast bowler Amrita Ramtahal (4/27) and off-spinner Anisa Mohammed (3/26) wrecked the lower order.

Boyce’s 76 came from 86 balls and comprised four sixes and four fours.

Also grabbing one wicket each were Ramnath (1/32) and Sonogram (1/39).

Set 189 for victory, TT opener Djenaba Joseph (three) was bowled by fast bowler Kimberly Anthony in the fourth over. Two balls later, Sawh was trapped in front her stumps by pacer Jahzara Claxton as TT sank to 10/2.

Veteran Mohammed and Cooper brought some stability to the innings and helped TT to 44/2 after 16 overs. The pair played patient knocks and made the Leeward Islands bowlers toil.

Cooper and Mohammed brought up a 50-run partnership after 20 overs, with TT on 60/2, in need of 129 runs from 30 overs. The duo got to 99 before Mohammed was smartly run out by Rozel Liburd.

Twelve runs later, skipper Karishma Ramharack (seven) perished brilliantly caught and bowled by Joseph. However, Kirby and Cooper constructed a neat 44-run partnership to keep TT in the hunt.

When Cooper departed with TT on 155/5, Kirby took the reins.

Need 30 runs from 30 balls for victory, the right-handed batter smashed right-arm fast bowler Sinai Kambalapalli for 18 runs from the 46th over, to put TT within sight of victory.

Despite Steffie Soogrim (two) departing, Kirby finished the job by cracking Kambalapalli for a four and a six.

Topping the bowling for Leewards' Jahzara Claxton (2/29).

In other matches, Guyana defeated Barbados by eight wickets at St Paul’s Complex in Basseterre. Jamaica were 175 all out, batting first, but Guyana made light work of the target as they raced to 178/2 from 47.1 overs courtesy knocks from Realeanna Grimmond (72 not out) and Mandy Manger (60).

At Warner Park, Barbados emerged victors by 56 runs over Windward Islands.

Barbados scored 181 all out, led by twin Kycia Knight (63) and Kyshona Knight (51). They went on to defend their total by dismissing Windwards for 125 inside 31 overs.

Round three bowls off on February 28 with TT versus Windwards at St Paul’s Complex, Leewards against Guyana at Warner Park and Jamaica versus Barbados at Conaree.

SCORES:

At Conaree Sports Club:

LEEWARD ISLANDS 188 in 45.3 overs (Reniece Boyce 76, Shawnisha Hector 35, Divya Saxena 32, Melicia Clarke 11; Amrita Ramtahal 4-27, Anisa Mohammed 3-26) vs TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 190-6 in 47.3 overs (Britney Cooper 72, Lee-Ann Kirby 41 not out, Anisa Mohammed 32; Jahzara Claxton 2-29).

At Warner Park::

BARBADOS 181 in 43.3 overs (Kycia Knight 63, Kyshona Knight 51, Aaliyah Alleyne 17, Allison Gordon 13 not out; Pearl Etienne 2-22, Jannillea Glasgow 2-24, Zaid James 2-30, Afy Fletcher 2-37) vs WINDWARD ISLANDS 125 in 30.5 overs (Ashlene Edward 31, Afy Fletcher 29, Earnisha Fontaine 14, Jannillea Glasgow 11, Pearl Etienne 11; Naijanni Cumberbatch 3-20, Aaliyah Alleyne 2-13, Keila Elliot 2-14).

At St Paul’s Sports Complex:

JAMAICA 175 in 47.4 overs (Chedean Nation 32, Neisha-Ann Waisome 29, Jodian Morgan 23, Lena Scott 22, Vanessa Watts 20, Corinne Howell 12; Plaffiana Millington 3-16, Shabika Gajnabi 2-27) vs GUYANA 178-2 in 47.1 overs (Realeanna Grimmond 72 not out, Mandy Mangry 60, Shemaine Campbelle 23 not out).