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Barbados Royals Women Secure Spot in 2023 WCPL Final with Close Win over Guyana Amazon Warriors Women
Barbados Royals Women secured a place in the 2023 WCPL Final with a three-wicket win over Guyana Amazon Warriors Women, thanks to Erin Burns' half century and a strong partnership with Amanda Jade-Wellington.
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Originally published by www.nationnews.com (opens in new tab)
Barbados Royals Women cemented their place in the 2023 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) Final with a narrow three-wicket win over Guyana Amazon Warriors Women at Kensington Oval yesterday afternoon.
In the last WCPL match in Barbados for the 2023 season, Stefanie Taylor won the toss and decided the Amazon Warriors would bat first, just as they did in the reverse fixture.
There was another strong powerplay from Kiwi opening pair Suzie Bâtes and Sophie Devine, this time of 51/0 which set the visitors on their way before a rebuild led by some big hitting from Natasha McLean got them to a competitive total. The chase was difficult for the Royals but they did get home in the end, finishing on 147-7 with four balls to spare.
Much like the last fixture between these sides, the Amazon Warriors started brilliantly thanks to their openers. The Kiwi pair put on a 74 run partnership in the eleventh over which threatened to take the game away from the hosts. Eventually the pair were separated when leg spinner Amanda Jade-Wellington bowled Bates with a wonderful delivery that pitched on leg stump but hit the top of off stump. After that there was a brief collapse which saw the visitors stutter to 87-3 after 13.3 overs. Natasha McClean’s cameo of 38 runs brought the Amazon Warriors to a competitive total of 146 runs at the innings break.
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.
Once again, Erin Burns was the hero for her side with a mature half century to see her team home when wickets fell around her. This 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 on Tuesday as the tournament moves on to Trinidad. Barbados, who will be awaiting their opponent in the final after winning all three of their games, face Trinbago Knight Riders on Wednesday September 6th. (JC)
