Henry’s heroics lifts Royals Women past Warriors

PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC):

Chinelle Henry played a superb cameo to lead an impressive run chase by the Barbados Royals Women, who began their Women’s Caribbean Premier League title defence with a dominant, seven-wicket win via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method over the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women here yesterday.

Chasing a revised target of 138 in 18 overs after the home side had compiled 154 for four in their 20 overs at the Providence Stadium, Player of the Match Henry thumped 37 runs from 19 balls to lead the defending champions to 140 for three in 17.2 overs.

It was the perfect start for both the Royals and Henry, who was named captain following the unavailability of Hayley Matthews, who was ruled out of the tournament because of surgery.

The Amazon Warriors batted well to get up to their total, thanks to an unbeaten half-century from Realeanna Grimmond and solid contributions from their top order.

Grimmond and fellow opener Amy Hunter, who scored 34 off 26 balls, put on 53 runs in eight overs for the first wicket.

When that partnership was broken by Sheneta Grimmond, Realeanna and Stafanie Taylor added a further 44 runs to put the Amazon Warriors in a strong position of 97 for one.

Taylor eventually fell for a run-a-ball 15, but Laura Harris belted 26 off just seven balls with three sixes and one four to maintain the momentum.

Realeanna batted through the innings and finished unbeaten on 61 off 57 balls, inclusive of six fours and one six.

Alleyne was the pick of the Royals’ bowlers with 2-27 from her four overs.

The Royals, too, benefited from useful contributions from the top order, with their opening pair of Chamari Athapaththu, who scored 29, and Qiana Joseph (22) sharing a 44-run partnership.

Ashmini Munisar accounted for both batters in the space of two overs to leave the Royals 65 for two, and when Harris bowled Courtney Webb for six, the Royals were in a spot of bother at 87 for three in the 13th over.

However, Georgia Redmayne and Henry shared an unbroken stand of 53 runs for the fourth wicket that transformed the complexion of the match.

While Redmayne was content to rotate the strike during her unbeaten knock of 33 off 29 balls, Henry was explosive in her shot selection, hitting four massive sixes and two fours to take her side to victory.

She ended the match in fine style by clobbering Harris for six over midwicket with four balls to spare.

Munisar ended with 2-24 for the Amazon Warriors, who fell to 1-1 after winning their opener.