Stafanie Taylor (L) and Rashada Williams (R) of Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrate winning the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League – The 6IXTY Women’s match 3 between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals at Warner Park Sporting Complex (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)
As the run rate was beginning to get ahead of the Knight Riders, Royals’ captain Hayley Matthews took two quick wickets and the game was all-but-done. With five balls remaining there were still 40 runs required. Despite the best efforts of Geetika Kodali and Hayley Jensen finishing with a flourish, they fell 29 runs short finishing 80/3.
GAME 2: Guyana Amazon Warriors beat Trinbago Knight Riders by 15 runs
Chamari Athapaththu started quickly as she raced to 16 from 8. She was granted a life when Kodali dropped her on 16 but it didn’t prove too costly. She was trapped lbw by Grimmond and her unsuccessful review meant she had to go.
Williams and Taylor worked the ball around and hit some impressive boundaries before a stumping off Anisa saw the end of Williams for 24. With seven balls remaining the Warriors were 66/2.
Taylor continued to strike big smashing the penultimate ball for a six as the Warriors took 15 runs off the final over.
The Knight Riders stated their intent from the first ball hitting an early boundary but Shamila Connell quickly claimed the wicket of Natasha McLean caught by Fraser in the deep. It was the turn of the Knight twins to re-ignite the chase. After five overs Knight Riders were 40/1 and the reintroduction of Connell broke the partnership when Kyshona Knight spooned it up to Taylor.
The pressure was on as Hayley Jensen headed to the crease. She scored 22 off 12 in the earlier game and much the same was needed. She picked up where she had left off, finding the boundary to leave the Knight Riders needing 32 from 24.
Taylor had other things to say about it. A quick pick up and throw from the floor saw her run Jensen out for 5. Kycia Knight, despite an injury shortening her innings in the opening game, continued to find the boundary until she tried to go big on the leg-side off Cherry-Ann Frazer and found Chedean Nation on the boundary.
Taylor continued to build the pressure bowling five dots in a row and leaving the Warriors needing 24 off the last two overs. With 18 needed off eight Sune Luus looked to didn’t get all of her shot and a glorious over-the-shoulder catch from Gajnabi off the bowling of Ramharack sent her packing.
The final over required 17 off the bowling of Ayabonga Khaka. She was clinical and they struggled to get her away before she castled Kodali for 3 meaning the Knight Riders had lost six wickets and their innings was over with three balls left.
GAME 3: Guyana Amazon Warriors beat Barbados Royals by 5 wickets with 12 balls remaining
The final game of Day one saw two teams vying to finish the opening day undefeated.
The Royals showed batting brilliance in their earlier victory while the Warriors had come out on top thanks to their work with the ball and on the field. It was set to be a mouth-watering match-up, and it did not disappoint.
Warriors’ Cherry-Ann Fraser produced staggering bowling figures of 3/6 from her 12 balls as she ripped through the Royals and helped restrict them to 54 all out from just 57 balls.
It was an all-around bowling and fielding display from the Warriors with Ayabonga Khaka also bowling tight lines and building pressure. Royals lost Boyce early, bowled by Khaka for 3.
She was followed quickly by Hayley Matthews for 10 before Britney Cooper, who had previously retired with a migraine, returned to the middle. She also struggled against the prowess of Fraser and was soon walking back to the dugout. Tryon again provided some resistance but fell for 24 and was the only Royals’ batter to make double figures.
Stafanie Taylor of Guyana Amazon Warriors hits 4 during the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League – The 6IXTY Women’s match 3 between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)The team in pink came out fighting and knew they needed early wickets if they were to be in with a chance of defending their small total.
A tight opening over from Matthews leaked just three runs while some incredible fielding from Fletcher saw the back of the dangerous Athapathuhu with a direct hit.
At the halfway mark, the Warriors were 28-1 and looked on to make it two wins from two on day one.
It was the partnership between former West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor and Rashada Williams that brought the Warriors home to win by five wickets.
Taylor was again unbeaten and finished with 33. Alongside Williams’ 22 not out, it was enough to help them chase down the modest total.
The new tournament promised so much and truly delivered on the first day. Players already looked to be learning and adapting by the close of play.
On Thursday, the men’s tournament also kicks off and we are sure to be in for more thrills and spills in this inaugural 6IXTY. (CPLT20)
