PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – West Indies players Kyshona Knight and Hayley Matthews stroked half-centuries as Barbados crushed defending champions Jamaica by 124 runs, to lift the Regional Women’s Super50 title here yesterday.Playing at the National Cricket Centre in Couva, the Barbadians piled up 242 for seven off their 50 overs then bundled out the Jamaicans for 118 in the 40th over, to complete an emphatic victory and an outstanding campaign where they played unbeaten.
Player-of-the-Match Kyshona Knight top-scored with 68 from 65 balls, while opener Matthews struck 53 from 93 deliveries.
Opener Kycia Knight chimed in with 39 while captain Shaquana Quintyne weighed in with an unbeaten 31 from 33 balls, to give Barbados momentum at the end.
Off-spinner Vanessa Watts finished with four for 39 while seamer Roshana Outar claimed two for 50.
In reply, Jamaica reached 72 for one in the 23rd over but collapsed to lose their last nine wickets for a mere 46 runs.
Captain Stafanie Taylor led Jamaica with 47 from 61 deliveries and opener Natasha McLean hit 28 but they were the only two in double figures as the remainder of the batting withered.
Leg-spinner Keila Elliott was the main architect of Jamaica’s demise, claiming three for 17 while seamer Shakera Selman supported with two for 25.
The victory marked the second time in the tournament Barbados prevailed over Jamaica, following their 32-run triumph in the first round.
Opting to bat first, Barbados’ batting clicked yet again in the tournament to put Jamaica’s bowling under pressure. Matthews and Kycia Knight put on 93 for the first wicket with Matthews stroking a single four and Kycia gathering four boundaries.
When the partnership was broken, Kyshona Knight then anchored three successive crucial stands to ensure Barbados maintained their momentum.
The 23-year-old left-hander put on 38 with Matthews, 37 with Deandra Dottin who made 19 before adding an exciting 65 from 58 for the fourth wicket with Quintyne.
With Barbados chasing quick runs at the death, the innings tailed away somewhat, with the last four wickets falling for just 19 runs in the space of 16 deliveries.
Jamaica started unsteadily, losing Jerona Walcott for eight with the score on 22 in the tenth over.
However, Taylor and McLean then revived the innings in a 29-run stand and when McLean retired hurt with the score on 51, Taylor put on a further 21 with Watts (4) to keep the partnership going.
Barbados then made key strikes, grabbing three quick wickets for five runs in the space of 12 balls as Jamaica tumbled to 77 for four in the 25th.
Taylor tried to rebuild again, adding 17 for the fifth wicket with McLean but her dismissal at 94 for five in the 20th proved massive and the defending champs lost their last five wickets for 24 runs.
