Women cricketers win St Lucia Trophy

Trinidad and Tobago’s women cricketers won the St Lucia United challenge Trophy with a hard fought five-wicket victory in the final match of their three-match series at Groveplace Development in St Lucia last Wednesday. The TT team, trailing 1-0 in the series went into the final match looking for a big win and they achieved that feat. The series ended 1-1 but the visitors copped the trophy by virtue of having a better overall run rate over the three matches. Batting first, St Lucia made 125 all out in 38.1 of the allotted 50 overs. Phillipa Thomas struck an unbeaten 40 and was well supported by Dorris Francis with 32. The pick of the bowlers for Trinidad and Tobago were Jade Chadee who got three wickets for 35 runs and Felicia Cummings, two for 17.

Chadee then returned with the bat to strike 46 to lead her team to victory with 9.3 overs to spare and five wickets standing. In the opening match of the series St Lucia defeated TT by the slim margin of 17 runs. St. Lucia posted 148 for four in their allotted 30 overs with Nadine George getting 59. Anisa Mohammed bowling off-spin grabbed two for 11. TT in reply struggled to 131 all-out despite a fighting 45 by Nita Naipailsingh. Envis Williams supported with 20, as Pamela Alfred (two for 21) proved difficult to get away. The match of the series was badly affected by rain and was deemed a no-result. St Lucia again batted first and scored 132 for four  in 37 of the 45 overs available.

The rain then came down after the 37th over and put paid to the match. Coach of the TT team Ann Browne-John said on return: “We got the opportunity to view the West Indies cricketers in the tournament to assess their level of play with the World Cup coming up next year.” “The series was very beneficial to all who took part and the players were really happy with the opportunity to play competitive matches,” she said. Manageress of the team Margarete Antoine said it was a team effort that took Trinidad and Tobago to victory in the last match and that the team was playing well as a unit.

CRICKET SCORES
Game I: St. Lucia 148/4 (30overs)(Nadine George 59, Dorris Francis 22, Anisa Mohammed 2/11) def Trinidad and Tobago 131 (30overs)(Nita Naipaulsingh 45, Envis Williams 21, Pamela Alfred 2/21) — By 17 runs.
Game II: St. Lucia 132/4 (37overs) (Lorena Vitee 44) — Washed out.
Game III: St. Lucia 125 (38.1 overs)(Phillipa Thomas 40 not out, Dorris Francis 32, Jade Chadee 3/35, Felicia Cummings 2/17) lost to Trinidad and Tobago 126/5 (Jade Chadee 46, Envis Williams 27, Shane De Silva 18) — By 5 wkts.
Series ended 1-1 with Trinidad and Tobago winning the St Lucia United trophy by virtue of securing a better run rate over the three matches.