Dottin’s Knight Riders win Women’s CPL

he Women’s CPL final wasn’t a run fest, and the 190 runs that were scored came off 38.4 overs – at under five an over – but it still became an interesting contest, not least because of some special shows.

Deandra Dottin, the Trinbago Knight Riders captain, came first, with a 62-ball 59. Hayley Matthews, Dottin’s opposite number, put in a sterling performance, with 3 for 22 and then a 49-ball 46, though it ended up being in a losing cause. And then four Knight Riders bowlers picked up at least two wickets each, giving them a ten-run win over Barbados Royals, and the title, at the inaugural edition of the tournament in Basseterre, St Kitts last night.

Matthews won the toss, and asked Dottin to bat, and had reason to be pleased at the halfway mark after restricting the total to 100 for 7. In a low-scoring tournament, this was
Knight Riders’ lowest total – they batted first in each of their three games – after they had put up 114 for 7 and 105 for 6 in their previous outings.

Their innings was all about Dottin, who hit four fours and two sixes from the top of the order. Only one other batter, Sune Luus, got into double-digits, scoring 12. Her partnership with Dottin for the second wicket was worth 29. The only stand better than that was late in the script, when Dottin and Kyshona Knight (8) added 32 for the fifth wicket.

For Royals, Matthews was the best bowler, with three wickets, though no one conceded runs at above six an over; Qiana Joseph (3.50) and Afy Fletcher (4.25) were the most economical among them.

Matthews was then Barbados’ best
batter too, as she opened the batting and top-scored with 46, before becoming the ninth batter out.

Around her, it was a sorry sight. The next best individual score was 7, scored by three batters: Aaliyah Alleyne, Chloe Tryon and Chinelle Henry, but at no stage did a proper partnership take shape; Royals needed someone to bat with Matthews to have a chance.

For Knight Riders, Anisa Mohammed was the most successful bowler with 3 for 16, Matthews among her victims, while Luus, Hayley Jensen and Sheneta Grimmond all picked up two wickets each.

“It (win) feels very good. This was our aim to go out there and get this championship and we worked together as a team and we are well deserving of it,” said TKR wicketkeeper Natasha McLean, who snared three
dismissals.

Luus added: “It’s amazing. I think it’s going to be a lot of celebrations tonight.”

(Cricinfo/CMC)