TT U-23 women cricketers eye title

CASTRIES: Defending champions St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and Trinidad and Tobago registered wins on Saturday to stay on course for the West Indies Women’s Under-23 cricket title.

SVG squeezed a 13-run triumph over Jamaica and TT whipped St Lucia by 91 runs, while Guyana rushed to their third consecutive win — badly beating the President’s XI — and retained an outside chance at the title. SVG and TT, who had their game on Wednesday aborted (rain) as a no-result, share the lead with 17 points entering yesterday’s final round, with Guyana lying third on 15 points. Jamaica and St Lucia are joint fourth on five points, with the President’s XI bottom of the table on five points each. At Gros Islet, SVG gathered 165 for five off their 40 overs against Jamaica with Jennifer Charles (41) and Janeille Greaves (40) leading the way against Peta-Gay Hanson (2-25).

Vanessa Watt (42) carried the fight in the Jamaica reply, but had little support as they slipped to their third consecutive defeat, the innings folding for 152 off 38 overs. Codel Jack (2-16) and Charles (2-22) doing most damage for the Vincentians. Trinidad and Tobago’s captain and West Indies player Nelly Williams (46) steered her side to 170 for nine off 40 overs against the hosts at Vieux Fort, with support from Kirbyna Alexander (38), and Jade Chadee (31). Rudi Paul (2-18), Wendy Henry (2-23) and Marlene Cooper (2-39) were the top bowlers for the St Lucians, who responded with 79 all out in 31.2 overs. Royline Cooper (21) top-scored for St Lucia, against Tova Noel (2-2), Chadee (2-17) and Anisa Mohammed (2-18). Meanwhile, the President’s XI plunged to their fourth straight loss when Guyana bowled them out cheaply at the Mindoo Phillip Park.

In a game reduced to 25 overs-a-side because of rain, Guyana posted 115 for three with Tracy Glasgow (30) and Rachel Campbell (29) the top-scorers against Davie Latchman (1-19) and Tamara Ramlogan (1-36). It took only 12.3 overs for the President’s XI to fold for 33 as medium pacer Anabelle Lewis captured five for four off 3.3 overs and Sabrina Munroe took two for eight for the Guyanese. In the last round Sunday, SVG play St Lucia, Guyana meet Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica tackle the President’s XI.