Trinidad and Tobago's women showed that sometimes heart, hustle, and hard-nosed bowling are all you need to spark a victory as they turned a modest total into a match-winning one, stunning Barbados by 36 runs in their T20 Blaze opener at Arnos Vale on Thursday.

It was a gritty, team-first effort anchored by a disciplined bowling attack that rose to the occasion after their batters faltered.

Scores: Trinidad and Tobago Women 114-7 (20 overs); Barbados 78 all out (17.5 overs)

Sent in to bat, Trinidad and Tobago posted a below-par total, as only Rachael Vincent’s composed 50 off 54 balls, which featured three fours and two sixes, and Britney Cooper’s fluent 42 off 41 deliveries, kept the innings from crumbling completely. Their 83-run partnership for the second wicket looked set to launch a competitive total, but once Cooper fell to Keila Elliott, the innings unravelled.

Lee-Ann Kirby (one), Samara Ramnath (two), and Vincent herself were dismissed in quick succession, sparking a middle- and lower-order collapse. Elliott returned to rip through the tail and ended with a sensational 5-17, that left Trinidad and Tobagoo with what appeared to be a below-par score.

However, Trinidad and Tobago’s bowlers came out breathing fire. Leading the charge was Steffie Soogrim, who turned the game on its head with 3-15, as she snared the big wickets of Kycia Knight (nie), Barbados skipper Trishan Holder (one), and West Indies pacer Shamilia Connell (one). Kirby (2-11) chipped in with two more, including the dangerous Shanika Bruce (zero), and Elliott (six),.

Barbados never got going and the run chase crumbled under the weight of tight lines and three sharp run-outs. Only Kyshona Knight (24 not out) showed real resistance, while Naijanni Cumberbatch (10) and Allison Gordon (12) were the only other batters to reach double figures.

The win gives Trinidad and Tobago crucial momentum in what is expected to be a tightly contested T20 Blaze tournament.