Taylor-made title for Jamaica

Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

Led by a fine all-round performance by captain Stafanie Taylor, Jamaica got sweet revenge over Trinidad and Tobago yesterday as they defeated their fierce rivals by 16 runs in the final of the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Women's Twenty20 (T20) Championships which was played at Sabina Park.

Jamaica, current champions of the women's 50 overs tournament, suffered their only defeat in eight matches to Trinidad and Tobago during the preliminary round.

"We are all proud of our ladies, they have done well and the coaches have worked hard ... I must say congratulations to the team and the astute leadership of Stafanie Taylor must be commended," president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, Lyndel Wright, said after the game.

Batting first after winning the toss, Jamaica made 101 runs off their allotted 20 overs for the loss of five wickets.

Taylor scored an unbeaten 57 runs from 63 balls to end the tournament as the top run-getter with 409 runs from eight innings for an average of 51.12.

Taylor, who is the lone female nominated for cricketer of the year, got support from opening partner Jodian Morgan who made 22 from 26 balls. Morgan was the first to be dismissed, as she was caught by Alisa Mohammed off Stacy-Ann King's final ball of her first over with the score on 45.

West Indies representative Shanel Daley did not last long as she was caught and bowled by King for a first ball duck to leave the score at 49 for two in the 10th over.

Wickets fall steadily

Wickets continued to fall steadily as Nathasha McLean (seven), Chedean Nation (five), Chinelle Henry (five) and Karla Cohen (one) all failed to get into double figures.

As wickets fell at the other end, Taylor remained solid and stroked four boundaries during her 71-minute stay at the crease. Two of these boundaries came in the final over bowled by Felicia Walters, which went for 14 runs, as Taylor brought up her 50 and pushed Jamaica over the 100-run mark.

The pick of the Trinidad and Tobago bowlers was King who claimed two wickets for 12 off her three overs.

The twin island republic's reply was constantly interrupted by the fall of wickets as Taylor returned to grab four wickets for nine runs off her four overs, which included the game's solitary maiden. The 21-year-old received good support from Daley, who finished with three for 13 and Vanessa Watts (2 for 14).

Britney Cooper top-scored for Trinidad and Tobago with 18 while Deandra Dottin got 16.

"Trinidad beat us in the preliminary round and we came out here and did what we had to do, because this is the final and it is our home ground," Taylor expressed.

Jamaica's head coach, Cleon Smith, had nothing but praises for his team.

"The girls worked very hard. They are a professional unit and they bought into whatever the coaching philosophy was and we saw the result today," Smith said.

Trinidad and Tobago's team manager/ coach, Marjorie Thomas, was gracious in defeat.

"I will take away nothing from the performance of the Jamaican players; we had a good performance, their performance was better, so they are the winners."

Barbados finished third after beating Guyana by seven wickets. Guyana's June Ogle was the game's top scorer, as she made 30 in her team's total of 88-7 off their 20 overs. Barbados, however, reached their target with 15 balls to spare while losing three wickets.

ryon.jones@gleanerjm.com