Bridgetown, Barbados – The girls from Jamaica were crowned queens of West Indies cricket on Sunday when they beat Trinidad and Tobago by 30 runs to win the WICB Women’s League trophy. The Jamaicans made 136 and defended the score as T&T were bowled out for 106 at the historic Kensington Oval. It was a superb triumph and Jamaica have now won the WICB men’s four-day, the WICB Under-19 three-day and the WICB Under-15 titles.
Speaking after the match, Jamaica captain Stafanie Taylor said it was a "great feeling" to take the trophy back to her homeland. The world-rated allrounder starred in the match with a topscore of 45 and grabbed two wickets. Shanel Daley also played an important part in the match with 28 runs and two wickets.
"I’m feeling so good right now. Everyone is happy. We came here, we worked really hard and we did ourselves and all of Jamaica proud. Everything was going good from morning and everyone did a great job today – on and off the field," the 20-year-old said.
"We’re a very, very happy team today because we know the hardwork we put in paid off. Some people would say 136 was a small score but we knew whatever we made we could defend it and that is what we did … we didn’t give up. We were confident from the start."
Taylor added: "Before we left the JCA [Jamaica Cricket Association] had a long meeting with us and they said the other teams have done very well and we knew we had to do it. We won in 2008 and came close in 2009 and we really went out there and did the business today. This is a great year for everyone involved in cricket in Jamaica."
Trinidad & Tobago, who had not lost a match in two seasons, were chasing their third consecutive women’s title, but came up short in the most important match of this tournament.
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SCORES
FINAL
At Kensington Oval: Jamaica 136 all out off 48.1 overs (Stafanie Taylor 45, Natasha McLean 34, Shanel Daley 28, Anisa Mohammed 4-20, Gaitri Seetahal 3-25, Felicia Walters 2-25) Trinidad & Tobago 106 all out off 42.1 overs (Britney Cooper 43, Merissa Aguilleira 17, Vanessa Watts 11 not out; Stefanie Taylor 2-14, Shanel Daley 2-23).
Jamaica won by 30 runs
Third Place play-off
At Pine Basin: St. Lucia 111 all out off 41.4 overs (Swayline William 31, Maria David 19, Phillipa Eudovic 17; Danielle Small 5-9, Shaquana Quintyne 3-20) Barbados 112-3 off 19.2 overs (Kycia Knight 50, Danielle Small 35)
Barbados won by seven wickets
Fifth Place Play- off
At Friendship: Guyana 127 all out off 47.5 overs (Tremayne Smartt 24, Shemaine Campbell 18, Yolande Parker 16; Sheree-Ann John 2-12, Roshelle John 2-24) St. Vincent & The Grenadines 84 all out off 26.3 overs (Juliana Nero 42, Shemaine Campbell 3-8, Joann Vansertima 3-9, Subrina Munroe 3-11)
Guyana won by 43 runs.
Seventh Place Play-off
At Desmond Haynes Oval: Grenada 293-3 off 50 overs) (Afy Fletcher 133, Debbie-Ann Lewis 47 not out, Rachel Cyrus 43; Anica Benjamin 2-45) Dominica 79 all out off 27.5 overs (Rosilia Registe 18; Afy Fletcher 4-18, Rachel Cyrus 2-7, Marilyn Nelson 2-25)
Grenada beat by 214 runs