Warriors through to WCPL final

New champions will be crowned in the Limacol WCPL after the Guyana Amazon Warriors defeated the Barbados Tridents by seven wickets in yesterday’s play-off match at Kensington Oval.

Overnight rain and early-morning showers forced a delayed start, with the contest reduced to eight overs per side under cloudy conditions.

Chasing 70 for a place in today’s final against the Trinbago Knight Riders, Tazmin Brits and Shemaine Campbelle shared a match-winning 51-run second-wicket partnership from 27 balls, powering the Warriors past the defending champions.

Opener Eboni Brathwaite top-edged Shawnisha Hector in the opening over of the chase, bringing the in-form Campbelle to the crease. She immediately took on the Tridents’ bowling attack, smashing 22 from just 12 deliveries.

When left-arm spinner Qiana Joseph had Campbelle caught behind for 22, with the Warriors on 54 for 2 at the end of the fifth over, the outcome appeared all but certain.

With only one run required from the final over, Suzie Bates yorked Nadine de Klerk with the first delivery. Captain Chloe Tryon ensured there would be no late drama, smashing the next ball over midwicket to seal victory and send the Warriors into today’s final.

Player-of-the-match Brits remained unbeaten on 35 from 23 balls as the Warriors reached their target with four deliveries to spare.

Earlier, Tryon won the toss and opted to bowl, and the defending champions struggled to find momentum from the outset.

Qiana Joseph found it difficult to get going against the pace of Shabnim Ismail and Shamilia Connell before being tactically retired after scoring three runs from 12 balls.

Hayley Matthews immediately injected some life into the innings, cutting Connell for four off the first ball she faced. However, her attempt to push the scoring rate further ended in the sixth over when she was run out while attempting a second run that was not there.

Maddy Green provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 30 from 16 balls, carrying the Tridents to 69 for 4 from their eight overs.

Erin Burns was economical for the Warriors, claiming 1-11 from her two overs as Guyana secured a place in the final and moved one step closer to capturing their first WCPL title.