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By Rawle Toney
The Barbados Royals’ women’s team is on a winning streak in this year’s Caribbean Premier League, securing their second victory on Saturday, this time in an impressive fashion against the Trinibago Knight Riders (TKR).
With the enthusiastic support of a small but lively crowd at the Kensington Oval, the Royals managed to restrict the Knight Riders to a mere 74 in 16.4 overs.
In response, the home team wasted no time in reaching 79 for the loss of four wickets, as player-of-the-match, Australian Erin Burns, sealed the victory with a towering six over mid-wicket off the delivery from New Zealand’s Fran Jonas.
Reflecting on the win, Royals’ Captain Hayley Matthews stated, “I think today was a good example of us really looking at what didn’t go so well with the ball in the first game, I really wanted to bounce better today and I think the bowlers, like I said, really put their hands up and take it up on the areas that we thought we didn’t do so well in.”
In their prior game against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Royals successfully chased down a target of 167 for their first win of the tournament.
Matthews had emphasised the need to tighten up their bowling after that match, and they demonstrated their improvement against the Trinidadian side.
Royals’ Captain Hayley Matthews
Burns finished with impressive figures of three-for-19 from her four overs, accounting for the dismissals of Kycia Knight (15), Kyshona Knight (7), and Mignon du Preez (7).
Matthews and Amanda-Jade Wellington both picked up two wickets each, while Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher contributed with the other wickets for the Royals.
When the Royals batted, the side’s Captain and Gaby Lewis provided a strong start, adding 40 runs before Matthews was dismissed for 19, falling victim to Mari Kelly’s bowling.
Lewis displayed patience at the crease before being sent back to the dugout by Jonas for 27.
After Lewis’ departure, the Royals were at three-for-56, with the only other dismissal being that of Rashada Williams, who managed just two runs before being caught behind by Kycia Knight off the bowling of Zaida James.
Burns (11) and Chinelle Henry (10) then guided the Royals to a comfortable victory.
The only other wicket to fall was that of Australian Laura Harris, who contributed three runs.
Following the victory, Matthews, who also serves as the West Indies women’s team Captain, praised the tournament for introducing international talent to each of the three teams, stating, “I think it kind of brings in a better opportunity for a lot of our girls to be able to learn, playing such a high standard of cricket this year, and hopefully they’re able to take a lot from the tournament myself.”
Up next for the Royals is a rematch against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday, with Matthews expressing her team’s intention to build on their recent success rather than reinventing the wheel. (rawletoney@barbadostoday.bb)
