Hayley Matthews’ run-a-ball 39 was in vain on Sunday when the Melbourne Renegades fell to yet another defeat in the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia.

Matthews was only one of two Renegades batters in double figures as the bottom-of-the-table franchise lost by eight wickets to Hobart Hurricanes Women at Melbourne. Josephine Dooley was not out on 16 as the Renegades Women slumped to 101-9 from their 20 overs.

Heather Graham was the primary destroyer taking 3-12 from her four overs while Molly Strano (2-14) and Nicola Carey (2-24) shared in the destruction of the Renegades batting order.

Matthews took 1-17 but was only one of two wicket takers as the Hurricanes cruised to victory on the back of an unbeaten 46 from Elyise Villani and Carey who was 25 not out at the end.

Georgia Wareham with 1-20 was the other wicket-taker for Melbourne who were losing the 10^th of their 12 matches this season.

In a candid conversation with Sportskeeda, West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder expressed his concern about the state of cricket pitches in the Caribbean, asserting that the quality of training facilities plays a crucial role in the development of players.

Currently in India at the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre, Holder couldn't help but draw a stark comparison between the training grounds in the Caribbean and the state-of-the-art facilities provided by the Royals.

Holder joined the Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the IPL 2023 season and provided a much-needed balance to the side.

The Rajasthan Royals have set a benchmark in cricketing infrastructure, offering their players a diverse range of eight different pitch variations along with cutting-edge facilities. This stark contrast hasn't gone unnoticed by Holder, who believes that such facilities are essential for honing skills to a higher standard.

"It's brilliant. Unfortunately, in the Caribbean, we don't have facilities that are equivalent to this. We just have normal grounds. There's no training ground," Holder remarked, highlighting the dearth of specialized training facilities in the Caribbean.

Holder emphasized the significance of having a variety of pitches and additional support staff, indicating that the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre provides a more comprehensive and tailored training experience compared to the grounds in the Caribbean. The West Indies cricketer is eager to make the most of this opportunity and extract maximum benefits from the top-notch facilities at his disposal.

"I just found it necessary to get away from the Caribbean, do something away from the Caribbean and do a lot more specific into what I need to work on," Holder explained, underscoring his decision to seek a more advanced and structured training environment.

Holder also praised the familial atmosphere fostered by the Rajasthan Royals, stating, "It is a really good family that the Royals have here, and they portray that family image." This sense of belonging and the conducive training environment have contributed to Holder's positive experience at the High Performance Centre.

The West Indies cricketer is utilizing his time in India to not only focus on physical fitness but also to refine his tactical skills. The opportunity to train in different conditions, coupled with the structured approach adopted by the Rajasthan Royals, has reignited Holder's passion for the game and provided him with a valuable platform for improvement.

As the West Indies all-rounder strives to enhance his cricketing prowess, his insights shed light on the challenges faced by players in the Caribbean and underscore the importance of investing in advanced training facilities for the development of cricket talent worldwide.

 Sunil Narine is retiring from international cricket. The Trinidadian mystery spinner announced an end to his eight-year international career on Instagram on Sunday.

"I appreciate it has been over four years since I last played for West Indies but today I am announcing my retirement from international cricket," said the 35-year-old Narine who last played for the West Indies in 2019.

“Publicly I am a man of few words but privately there are a few people who have given me unwavering support throughout my career and helped me realize my dream of representing West Indies and to you I express my deepest gratitude."

Notwithstanding the announcement, Narine said he will end his international career by winning the ongoing Super50 league for the Trinbago Red Force. "I love representing Trinidad & Tobago, the country of my birth, and to add another title by winning the Super50 Cup will be the perfect send-off," he said.

Narine played 122 international matches, which included six Tests, 65 ODIs and 51 T20Is and was a member of the West Indies team that won the T20 World Cup in 2012. He has played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League since 2012.

He will continue to play for KKR in the IPL, Abu Dhabi in the International League T20, Trinbago in the Caribbean Premier League and Los Angeles in Major League Cricket. He is also part of the Hundred men's competition with Oval Invincibles and also plays in the Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League and Bangladesh Premier League.

The West Indies Women got their tour of Australia off to a winning start with a four-wicket victory over a New South Wales (NSW) Women's team at Wilson Park.

Karishma Ramharack had the NSW ladies spun tightly in her web of off-spin and were restricted to posted 105-9 from their 20 overs. Ramharack finished with figures of 3-12. Captain Hayley Matthews supported with some wizardry of her own taking 2-7 from her two overs.

NSW skipper Sammy-Jo Johnson was the top-scorer with 28 with Hannah Darlington making 24.

Shemaine Campbelle led the West Indies Women's run-chase posting 33 from 34 deliveries which included five boundaries. Skipper Matthews was next best with 24 off 27. Aaliyah Alleyne 19 not out and Zaida James 15 not out took the visitors home to victory in 17.5 overs.

Head Coach Shane Deitz was pleased with the team's first outing since arriving in Australia four days ago.

“It's good to get the first win on tour. I think we've got a lot of areas we need to improve on, especially getting used to batting on these wickets with some extra pace and bounce. Overall, I think we played generally good all-round and it's going to put us in a good position to play on Sunday,” he said.

The ODI series against Australia is West Indies’ fourth fixture in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-2025 after playing New Zealand, England and Ireland.

Each match provides West Indies with opportunity to win valuable points to climb the Championship table where they currently lie ninth of 10 teams.

Following the Australia Series, West Indies Women will play four three-match ODI series over the next two years. At the end of the cycle, the top five teams in the ICC Women’s Championship will book berths in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025 along with hosts India.

The remaining teams will have to go through the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

It was a historic night at Providence as Guyana Amazon Warriors won the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final with a nine-wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders, ensuring a maiden CPL title for the franchise.

Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and chose to bowl first, producing a disciplined performance to bowl the Knight Riders out for just 94. Imran Tahir and Gudakesh Motie produced valuable economical spells, while Dwaine Pretorius took four wickets.

It was a nervy chase from the Amazon Warriors in front of a home crowd as the Knight Riders tried to restrict runs with spin. However, Saim Ayub and Shai Hope, the two leading run scorers in CPL this season, would ultimately see the team over the line, winning by nine wickets.

Despite a 24-run opening stand between Chadwick Walton and Mark Deyal, the Knight Riders lost wickets at regular intervals, with three falling to seam bowling in the Powerplay, including key batter Nicholas Pooran for just one.

Captain Kieron Pollard would fall straight after the Powerplay, as spin began to play a vital role, with Motie and Tahir causing havoc, taking a combined four wickets between them and conceding just 15 runs in total.

Keacy Carty would attempt to lead the resistance for the Knight Riders, but as he ran out of partners he found himself taking more risks, eventually falling to a brilliant Shimron Hetmyer catch. The Knight Riders would finish 94 all out.

Guyana Amazon Warriors lost the early wicket of Keemo Paul, who was opening, which added tension to their chase. Knight Riders would deploy both Akeal Hosein and Sunil Narine in the Powerplay in an attempt to prise more wickets, but the Amazon Warriors would end the Powerplay on 29-1. 

Saim Ayub and Shai Hope would show the form that has led to them leading the run scoring charts this season, combining to take the Amazon Warriors to victory, Ayub bringing up his half century with a six from the last ball of the chase, to take the Warriors to a maiden CPL title win.

 Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 99-1 (Ayub 52*, Hope 32*; Hosein 1-21) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 94 all out (Carty 38, Deyal 16; Pretorius 4-26, Motie 2-7) by 9 wickets.

Chadwick Walton scored 80 not out as Trinbago Knight Riders secured their place in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final on Sunday with a seven-wicket win over Guyana Amazon Warriors in Qualifier 1 on Wednesday night.   

Trinbago Knight Riders won the toss and chose to bowl first. Led by Waqar Salamkheil and Terrence Hinds they produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Guyana Amazon Warriors to 166-7 after 20 overs, Despite another super innings from Saim Ayub, it was Guyana Amazon Warriors  lowest score this season when batting first.

The Knight Riders chase was headlined by Chadwick Walton, with the opener ensuring his side never fell below the run rate and eventually guiding them across the finish line with a brilliant innings of 80 not out that ensured they progressed to the final on Sunday. 

Ayub continued his brilliant maiden CPL season with a score of 49 as he once again opened with Odean Smith. Their 53-run partnership would prove to be the foundation of the Amazon Warriors innings. Despite losing leading run scorer Shai Hope in the ninth over, they would manage to reach 166-7 largely thanks to the late runs scored by Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie.

Salamkheil and Hinds would both prove to be vital for the Knight Riders, as they took wickets and contained the scoring.

Trinbago Knight Riders raced away to 41-0 after 4 overs as Walton and Mark Deyal combined to give their side an ideal start to the chase.

Imran Tahir would bring himself on to bowl and strike with his first ball, trapping Deyal lbw. Nicholas Pooran replaced Deyal and together with Walton, forged a 51-run partnership before the former was caught off the bowling of Dwaine Pretorius for 33.

However, Walton would silence the Providence crowd with his innings of 80*, which included nine boundaries. He was supported by Captain Kieron Pollard as TKR surged towards victory and a place in Sunday’s final.

Qualifier 2 between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Jamaica Tallawahs will take place on Friday evening at Providence Stadium.

Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 167-3 (Walton 80*, Pooran 33; Pretorius 2-36, Tahir 1-30) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 166-7 (Ayub 49, Khan 36; Salamkheil 2-28, Hinds 2-32) by seven wickets

The Jamaica Tallawahs will head to Qualifier 2 of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) following a comprehensive five-wicket defeat of the Saint Lucia Kings on Tuesday.

The Tallawahs won the toss and opted to field first and that proved to be an inspired decision as they ripped through the Kings batting to restrict them to 125-9. The Kings never adapted to the slow track and this was made harder when they ran into a Fabian Allen playoff masterclass as the all-rounder led the way for the Tallawahs taking 4-25.

The Kings were always up against it from that moment and the Tallawahs duly wrapped up victory inside 18 overs having been given a great foundation by Brandon King and Alex Hales.

The Kings had their moments with the ball while trying to defend a modest 125-run target, Matthew Forde took a career best 4-22 but that was as good as it got for the Kings.

Earlier, the Tallawahs had suffered an initial setback when they lost Mohammed Amir to injury three balls into the match but the remaining Tallawahs bowling attack made light of the absence of their talisman.

Both Colin Munro and Johnson Charles fell inside the PowerPlay as the Kings inning struggled to get going with wickets falling outside the PowerPlay.

Green picked up his second wicket to remove Bhanuka Rajapasa before Nicholson Gordon got in on the act. The fast bowler removed Shadrack Descarte for four to leave the Kings in trouble at 59-4 at the half-way stage of the innings.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and when Fabian Allen removed Sikander Raza and Roston Chase in the 16th over, the Kings were all at sea. Allen added two more wickets in the 18th over to end a brilliant spell with 4-25.

Just when it appeared the Kings were on the brink of being bowled out Khary Pierre and Peter Hatzoglou got them up to 125 to give them something to bowl at.

In reply, the Tallawahs all but confirmed victory when King and Hales raced to 43 in the first four overs. King eventually fell for 30 and Hales for 24 but the damage was done. 

The honour of seeing the Tallawahs home fell to Raymon Reifer who took the drama out of the chase with a sensibly constructed 30 not out. The Tallawahs victory now means that they head to Qualifier 2 on Friday night.

Scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 126-5 (King 30, Reifer 30*; Forde 4-23, Pierre 1-26) beat Saint Lucia Kings 125-9 (Chase 40, Raza 19; Allen 4-25, Green 2-19) by five wickets

In a record-breaking spectacle, the Guyana Amazon Warriors delivered a commanding performance, securing an emphatic 88-run victory over the Barbados Royals in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Providence on a memorable Sunday evening.

Electing to bowl first after winning the toss, the Barbados Royals were met with sheer devastation as the Guyana Amazon Warriors wreaked havoc with their batting prowess. The star of the show was none other than Shai Hope, who etched his name in the annals of CPL history with a breathtaking century, the second-fastest ever, achieved in a mere 41 balls. This extraordinary display of batting propelled the Amazon Warriors to an imposing total of 226-7 after the allotted 20 overs, marking their highest-ever team score in the CPL.

Hope's sensational innings was a masterclass in boundary-hitting, comprising an astounding 17 boundaries. He received valuable support from Kevlon Anderson, who notched up a commendable 47 runs on his CPL debut. The late cameo by Shimron Hetmyer ensured that the Amazon Warriors finished on a high note, setting a formidable target for the Royals.

In response to the daunting task, the Barbados Royals encountered early setbacks as opener Rahkeem Cornwall departed in the third over. The Amazon Warriors' spinners, led by the crafty Gudakesh Motie and the wily Imran Tahir, capitalized on the situation, taking wickets at regular intervals and stifling the Royals' run flow. The dismissals of Justin Greaves and Laurie Evans further compounded the Royals' woes, reducing them to a precarious 42-3.

Rovman Powell's departure, courtesy of Imran Tahir's bowling prowess, tilted the scales decisively in favor of the Amazon Warriors. Despite a valiant half-century from Rivaldo Clarke, the Royals struggled to maintain the required run rate. In the end, they could only muster a total of 138-6.

With this resounding victory, the Barbados Royals faced the unfortunate consequence of failing to qualify for the CPL playoffs, bringing their campaign to an end.

As the CPL moves into the playoff stage next week, the Guyana Amazon Warriors are set to clash with the Trinbago Knight Riders in Qualifier 1, while the Saint Lucia Kings will lock horns with the Jamaica Tallawahs in the Eliminator.

 Final Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors: 226-7 (Hope 106, Anderson 47; McCoy 2-36, Holder 2-50); Barbados Royals: 138-6 (Clarke 54, Brathwaite 18; Tahir 3-23, Motie 2-11)

The Jamaica Tallawahs all but assured themselves of a place in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Playoffs following a comprehensive 122 run victory over the Saint Lucia Kings.

The Saint Lucia Kings won the toss and opted to field first and that backfired as they ran into an Alex Hales storm. Hales produced his career best to propel the Tallawahs to 201-5 a total that always looked impenetrable.

The Kings were never in the game from that moment and the Tallawahs wrapped up victory inside 15 overs bowling the Kings out for 79.

The Tallawahs were hampered by the enforced absence of Captain Brandon King, however, Hales stepped up to the plate to blaze his way to his highest individual T20 career score of 119 not out.

Hales and Imad Wasim put together a magnificent partnership of 116 from 52 balls to help set a target of 202 to win – an equation that always looked likely to be enough to secure their spot in the Caribbean Premier League eliminator.

In reply, the Kings were struggling from the start of the PowerPlay, Mohammed Amir dismissed makeshift opener Roshon Primus and Leonardo Julien before Chris Green got in on the act to trap Bhanuka Rajapaksa in front for 22 and Sean Williams for a duck.

The Kings were bowled out for 79 with Chris Green the wicket taker in chief, leading the way with a devastating spell of 4-15.

Scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 201-5 (Hales 119*, Wasim 41; Chase 2-33, Joseph 1-28) beat Saint Lucia Kings 79 (Rajapaska 22, Forde 13; Green 4-15, Amir 2-17) by 122 runs

Shai Hope’s controlled half-century helped Guyana Amazon Warriors complete a six wicket win and the double against the Trinbago Knight Riders as the two sides, on Saturday, played out a dress rehearsal ahead of Wednesday night’s Qualifier 1.

The Amazon Warriors won the toss and opted to field first and the decision went in their favour as a Knight Riders side shorn of Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine posted a competitive 176-8. The Amazon Warriors timed their chase perfectly in reply as Hope carried on his good form with an unbeaten 54 to ensure the game was won with 10 balls to spare.

Earlier on, a much-changed Knight Riders got off to a bad start when Martin Guptil was run out for one but Mark Deyal’s quick fire 37 from 20 balls ensured the Knight Riders were able to post a healthy 49-2 by the end of the PowerPlay.

Chadwick Walton and Keacy Carty put on a 59-run partnership before Imran Tahir cleaned up Walton for 25.

However, that merely signalled the moment for Carty to press the accelerator. He took an extreme liking to Odean Smith, taking him for 26 runs in the 15th over to bring up his half century.

Carty was to go on to make a brilliantly constructed 83 before he was eventually stumped. That wicket was one of three in the 19th over as Imran Tahir halted the Knight Riders momentum.

The Knights Riders were to eventually post 176, a total that gave their bowlers something to work with.

In reply, the Amazon Warriors got off to the best possible start in the PowerPlay. Odean Smith partnered Saim Ayub and the pair reached 56-0 at the end of six overs but Ayub was to fall immediately after the fielding restrictions were lifted, skying a delivery from Akeal Hosein.

Smith was to go on to make his best score of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) – benefitting from three drops on his way to a sparkling 44, Smith’s knock ensured the Warriors only needed 60 from 44 balls with eight wickets remaining.

It was an equation the Amazon Warriors negotiated with ease as they romped to victory with two overs remaining.

Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 177-4 (Hope 54*, Smith 44; Deyal 1-21, Hinds 1-26) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 176-8 (Carty 83, Deyal 37; Tahir 3-12, Paul 1-11) by 6 wickets

The Saint Lucia Kings confirmed their place in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Playoffs following a comfortable seven wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The Amazon Warriors won the toss and opted to bat first and it was a decision that was to backfire as the innings never really got going until the final five overs. Despite some late power hitting the Amazon Warriors could only post 167-5 which appeared subpar at first glance.

That proved to be correct as the Saint Lucia Kings confirmed that by chasing down the 168 to win with 15 balls remaining.

Earlier the Amazon Warriors suffered a slow start as Matthew Nandu was run out for three inside the PowerPlay and that setback contributed to the Warriors only reaching 35-1 at the end of the initial six overs.

That sedate start was difficult for the home side to overcome as the CPL’s top run scorer, Saim Ayub, fell for 16 in the ninth over with the score on 50-2.

However, Shai Hope and Azam Khan then Khan and Shimron Hetmyer helped rebuild the innings before late fireworks from Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd ensured 72 runs were added in the final five overs to set the Kings 168 to win.

That 168 proved to be well under par as the Kings made easy work of the chase.

Although Johnson Charles fell for one in the second over that was to be as good as it got for the Amazon Warriors as Colin Munro and Bhanuka Rajapaksa put on a devastating partnership of 132 runs from 82 balls.

Rajapaksa holed out for 86 to deep mid-wicket and Munro followed shortly after for 55, but the job was done. It allowed Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza to see the chase home with three overs remaining.

The win ensures the Kings qualify for the playoffs with one game to spare.

Scores: Saint Lucia Kings 170-3 (Rajapaksa 86, Munro 55; Shepherd 1-15, Tahir 1-34) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 167-5 (Khan 40, Hope 38; Joseph 2-31, Raza 1-14) by seven wickets.

In a thrilling encounter at Providence, Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their unbeaten streak in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by defeating the Jamaica Tallawahs by seven wickets, securing a spot in Qualifier 1.

Winning the toss and opting to field first, the Warriors were resolute in their approach. Despite a fiery start by Brandon King, the Jamaica Tallawahs found it challenging to maintain their momentum, concluding their innings at 152-5 after 20 overs.

The home team's chase began with a dream opening partnership as Saim Ayub and Matthew Nandu combined forces to construct an impressive 112-run stand, firmly establishing the Warriors' dominance. Ayub showcased his brilliance, amassing a remarkable 85 runs to steer the Guyana Amazon Warriors towards a comfortable victory.

Although the Jamaica Tallawahs suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Alex Hales, courtesy of Romario Shepherd's bowling, Brandon King showcased his prowess, crafting exquisite shots on his way to a half-century off just 29 balls.

However, the Guyana Amazon Warriors retaliated when Gudakesh Motie dismissed King, causing a slowdown in the Tallawahs' scoring rate. Over a span of six middle overs, the Tallawahs struggled to find the boundary consistently, thanks in large part to the contributions of South African duo Dwaine Pretorius and Imran Tahir.

As the innings drew to a close, the Jamaica Tallawahs managed to reach a total of 152-5 after their allotted 20 overs.

Guyana Amazon Warriors introduced CPL debutant Matthew Nandu, who, alongside Saim Ayub, formed an opening partnership that firmly tilted the game in the Warriors' favor.

Ayub reached his half-century from 34 balls, marking his third consecutive CPL fifty. In the 13th over, Chris Green managed to dismiss Matthew Nandu, but Ayub continued to dazzle, accumulating 85 runs and guiding his side to the brink of victory before eventually losing his wicket. Shai Hope and Odean Smith sealed the deal for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

With this convincing win, the Guyana Amazon Warriors advance to Qualifier 1, setting the stage for more thrilling CPL action. Their next challenge awaits them as they square off against the Saint Lucia Kings on Thursday evening.

Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors: 155-3 (Ayub 85, Nandu 37; Springer 1-23, Irshad 1-27)

Jamaica Tallawahs: 152-5 (King 52, Allen 21; Pretorius 2-33, Shepherd 1-19, Tahir 1-19)

Result: Guyana Amazon Warriors win by 7 wickets.

West Indies legend Brian Lara has signed on to play in the upcoming T20 Black Clash in New Zealand.

The 54-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, will join Team Rugby for the match against Team Cricket at Mt Maunganui on January 20, 2024.

Lara's inclusion is a major coup for the organizers of the event, which is a charity match that pits former All Blacks players against former New Zealand cricketers. The T20 Black Clash is a charity match that raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation New Zealand.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of the T20 Black Clash," Lara said. "I've always been a fan of the All Blacks and New Zealand's rugby prowess, so it's an honor to be able to play alongside them."

Lara's batting record is simply staggering. He holds the record for the highest individual score in both Test and first-class cricket, with 400 and 501 runs respectively. He is also the only batsman to have scored 10,000 runs in both formats.

"Brian Lara is one of the greatest cricketers of all time," said event director Carlena Limmer. "He's a true legend of the game, and we're honored to have him playing in the T20 Black Clash."

Team Rugby will be looking to avenge their narrow loss to Team Cricket at Hagley Oval earlier this year. With Lara in their lineup, they will be confident of squaring the series at 3-3.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing against some of the best rugby players in New Zealand," he said. "It's going to be a lot of fun, and I'm sure it will be a great event for the fans."

Lara is no stranger to the T20 format. He played in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League in 2013, and he also played in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2016.

"I think the T20 format is a great way to showcase the skills of both batsmen and bowlers," he said. "It's a very exciting game, and I'm sure the fans in New Zealand are going to love it. We have a very good team, and we're all motivated to win," he said. "I'm sure we'll give Team Cricket a good run for their money."

Trinbago Knight Riders ensured a top-two finish and place in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Qualifiers with a seven wicket victory over the Saint Lucia Kings on Sunday.

The home team won the toss and chose to field but it was their former player Colin Munro who was the star of the Saint Lucia Kings innings, scoring an unbeaten 72 runs to take the side to 167-3 after 20 overs.

The Knight Riders’ chase was headlined by a superb half century from Mark Deyal, alongside support from wicket-keeper Lorcan Tucker and Andre Russell, to take the side to a seven-wicket victory in their final game this season in front of their home crowd.

Saint Lucia Kings lost powerful opener Johnson Charles in the PowerPlay, as fast bowler Jayden Seales celebrated with a wicket on his birthday, but the Kings would rebuild as Colin Munro and Roston Chase patiently scored runs in their 76-run partnership, which came off 58 balls.

Chase was dismissed off a Waqar Salamkheil delivery and that was followed shortly afterwards with the big wicket of captain Sikandar Raza, who fell to Sunil Narine.  A late cameo from Sean Williams, who smashed 34 runs off 17 balls would see the Saint Lucia Kings score 58 runs in the last five overs to finish on 167-3.

Trinbago Knight Riders had an early scare as opener Martin Guptill was given out LBW from just the third ball of the innings but the decision was overturned on review.

Guptill eventually lost his wicket in the fourth over, and when Nicholas Pooran, leading run scorer for the franchise this season, lost his wicket in the final ball of the Powerplay to an Alzarri Joseph delivery, the Knight Riders looked in trouble at 45-2.

However, opener Mark Deyal would compose a brilliant half century, reaching 57 before being caught on the boundary by Peter Hatzoglou. Lorcan Tucker would provide invaluable support with 38 runs, before a flurry of boundaries from Andre Russell would ensure the Trinbago Knight Riders would win. 

CPL action now moves on to the final leg in Guyana, with the Guyana Amazon Warriors taking on the Jamaica Tallawahs on Wednesday evening.

Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 169-3 (Deyal 57, Tucker 38; Joseph 2-42, Chase 1-25) beat Saint Lucia Kings 167-3 (Munro 72*, Williams 34*; Seales 1-23, Salamkheil 1-23) by 7 wickets

 Barbados Royals finished the 2023 Massy Women’s Premier League (WCPL) season as champions after they wrapped up an eight-run final win against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday.

After topping the group stage with two wins over the Warriors and a win and a loss over previous winners Trinbago Knight Riders, the Royals claimed the second ever WCPL title at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad.

Having lost the toss and being put into bat for the first time, the Royals posted 169-7 with Captain Hayley Matthews finding a big score at the right time before being slowed down in the final few overs keeping the Warriors in hope of a result.

In response, competition top scorer Sophie Devine could only manage a start before some tight bowling restricted the run rate required, leaving the Warriors short.

Gaby Lewis got the Royals off to a firing start before falling side the PowerPlay with a score of 37-1 after six overs.

Matthews prevailed through the middle overs putting on the first century partnership of the competition with Rashada Williams. The Warriors clawed back the Royals, restricting them to 32-6 from the final five overs.

After early struggles for wickets, Shabnim Ismail showed her quality with 4-30, picking up the wickets of all the Royals top four batters.

Guyana Amazon Warriors, in similar fashion to the Royals, had an important middle over partnership after making the most of the PowerPlay, with Suzie Bates and Shemaine Campbelle putting on 60.

The Royals’ bowlers did enough with the ball to restrict run rate enough to deny the Warriors despite some late hope given by Natasha McLean with a 17-ball 28, including taking 16 runs from the 17th over.

Matthews was at the forefront once again in key moments with McLean being run-out off Matthews’ bowling at the non-striker’s end with some misfortune in her dismissal combined with some brilliant reactions from the Barbados captain.

Royals bowlers were economical as they have been throughout the competition with overseas star Amanda-Jade Wellington, in particular, starring with 4-23, including 3-2 in the penultimate over when the Warriors required 23 from 12 balls.

Campbelle’s brilliant unbeaten knock of 47 was in vain as Matthews was able to defend 21 off the final over despite Ismail’s cameo giving the Royals a late scare.

Scores: Barbados Royals 169-7 (Matthews 82, Williams 36; Ismail 4-30, Patil 1-25) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 161-8 by eight runs