Barbados Royals Crowned WCPL Champions with Four-Wicket Victory over Trinbago Knight Riders
In a thrilling finale of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) 2024, the defending champions Barbados Royals emerged victorious, defeating Trinbago Knight Riders by four wickets. Fast-bowling allrounder Aaliyah Alleyne led the charge for the Royals, returning figures of 4 for 21 to restrict TKR to a modest total of 93 for 8.
Winning the toss, TKR skipper Deandra Dottin got off to a strong start with a six in the opening over, but Royals captain Hayley Matthews struck early to dismiss her. Jemimah Rodrigues too fell cheaply, as TKR found themselves in trouble at 43 for 2. Jannillea Glasgow and Shikha Pandey put on a 43-run stand, but Alleyne’s double-strike in the 16th over derailed the TKR innings.
Chasing a relatively low target, the Royals openers Chamari Athapaththu and Hayley Matthews got their team off to a brisk start, adding 48 runs inside the powerplay. While Matthews and a couple of other batters fell in quick succession, Athapaththu held firm, scoring an unbeaten 39 to guide the Royals to a comprehensive four-wicket victory with five overs to spare.
The win marked the Royals’ second WCPL title, having also emerged victorious in the inaugural edition last year. Hayley Matthews was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for her all-round contributions, including a chart-topping 11 wickets and the second-most runs in WCPL 2024.
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