Knight fifty helps Barbados retain title

Kycia Knight’s unbeaten half-century was enough to power Barbados Women to a convincing eight-wicket win over Jamaica Women and the capture of their second straight Regional Super50 Cup in Guyana on Saturday.

Asked to chase 119 in a game reduced to 26 overs per side because of rain, Barbados romped to victory with 14 balls to spare at the Guyana National Stadium, with the left-hander Knight stroking 60 not out off 75 balls with seven fours.

She put on 56 for the first wicket with captain Hayley Matthews who made 22, and added a further 41 for the second wicket with twin Kyshona (14), a stand that put Barbados on the brink of victory.

Jamaica captain Stafanie Taylor had earlier top-scored with 44 from 57 deliveries with five fours but was the only batsman to pass 20 as the reigning T20 champions were restricted to 118 for eight off their 26 overs.

With her side slumping on 26 for two in the eighth over, Taylor propped up the innings first in a 34-run, third wicket stand with Keneshia Ferron (11) and then in a 30-run, fourth wicket partnership with Natasha McLean (19).

However, off-spinner Matthews (2-16) and new-ball seamer Aaliyah Alleyne (2-19) made key strikes as Jamaica lost four wickets for 14 runs at the back end, with Taylor run out in the final over trying to get on strike.

In reply, Knight and Matthews strung together a healthy first wicket stand to put Barbados on course for victory.

Matthews, announced as the new West Indies Women’s captain earlier Saturday, struck two fours in a 31-ball knock before playing back to one from off-spinner Corrrine Howell that spun sharply, and was bowled.

Kycia reached her half-century in the 20th over from off-spinner Vanessa Watts when she edged a drive to the third man boundary, but then lost her Kyshona in the next over lbw to pacer Chinelle Henry, playing across the line.

At that stage, Barbados required 22 runs from 29 deliveries and Kycia remained solid to steer her side over the line.

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