The Barbados Royals kept their unbeaten record thanks to Erin Burns producing a great half-century in the 2023 Massy Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
In the WCPL’s final match in Barbados for 2023, the Amazon Warriors won the toss and batted first as they did in their last fixture, ending in similar fashion to the opener between these same teams last Thursday.
In much similarity to their opener, a strong powerplay of 51/0 set the visitors on their way before a rebuild led by some big hitting from Natasha McLean got them to a competitive total.
Run rate was never an issue in reply to 146 for the Royals but with wickets falling frequently Burns’ resistance was required to win the game; late partnerships with the lower-order flipped the match in their favour, finishing the chase in the final over.
In a near-carbon copy of the opening match of the 2023 WCPL with Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates leading off the first innings in similar fashion to that of Thursday night. Hayley Matthews used seven different bowlers inside the opening eight overs, searching for the all-important breakthrough.
The Kiwi pair put on 74 for an opening stand before Amanda-Jade Wellington produced the perfect leg-spinner’s delivery to dismiss Bates for 30 in a pick-of-the-bowlers spell of 1/21.
With Devine looking set for another half-century, the Amazon Warriors’ innings was setback to a restart when Devine fell to a good catch in the deep by Aaliyah Alleyne with the score at just 78.
After persisting against a long list of spinners from the Royals, the visitors were able to rebuild with McLean leading the way with three sixes in her 26-ball 38, helping the Warriors to 146/4.
In reply, Matthews and Laura Harris got starts once again for the Royals; the latter scoring all 18 of her runs from sixes before being dismissed by the experience of Shakera Selman featuring for the first time with the ball in the 2023 edition.
With wickets falling frequently through Selman and Patil, the Royals were 75/5 from 10 overs and the match was in the balance. Burns’ timely knock when wickets fell around her continued the Australian’s remarkable form in the WCPL, knocking off the final 30 runs in 14 balls, winning the match with four balls to spare in an unbeaten 42-run partnership with Wellington.
Guyana Amazon Warriors face up to Trinbago Knight Riders next as the tournament moves on to Trinidad.
-CPL
