The T&T Red Force Divas stormed to an emphatic eight-wicket victory when they tackled Southern Windward Islands (SWI) in their opening round match of the WICB Regional Women’s Super50 tournament yesterday at Gilbert Park.
Inexperienced T&T bowler Karishma Ramarack scythed through most of the SWI batting line-up to end with figures of eight for 23 from 6.4 overs and set up the T&T win despite a valiant 40 by opposing captain Juliana Nero, who endured 81 balls in 82 minutes in her knock that also included three fours.
Then opener Felicia Walters topscored with 42 not out for this country to lead them in an easy chase.
“Of course, we would be overjoyed with winning but we are not going to get complacent,”said manager Marjorie Thomas. “We want to take each game in its stride and each is a new game and go into each game as if it’s a final so we can win each game. We can’t get complacent with one game. That’s just the start and as far as we are concerned, we want to win six games.”
Thomas said T&T’s ability to contain SWI to 90 was key to their success
“…And it was a joy for us to see Karishma (Ramharack) which is one of the newer players get an eight-wicket haul. That was a joy for us, but now we must stay focused,” Thomas reiterated.
Besides Nero, SWI’s wicket-keeper/batsman Cordel Jack (17) was the only other woman to get into double figures as the Divas’ Ramharack steamrolled the batting.
Walters, who lasted 100 minutes in facing 76 balls, had partnerships of 24 with Shenelle Lord (12), and 25 with West Indies player Brittney Cooper (15). She and skipper Merissa Aguillera then saw the Red Force through to the end without any further loss.
Aguillera was seven not out as T&T attained the target.
In the game at the National Cricket Centre, Guyana posted a comfortable five-wicket win over North Windward Islands (NWI) on the back of Shemaine Campbell’s 59 not out.
Campbell also got some help from Melanie Henry (25) but NWI’s Qiana Joseph’s efforts with bat (33) and ball (three for six) were not supported by her teammates.
