Power carries TT to double joy

It was another historic milestone achievement by the women cricketers when they recorded a thrilling four-wicket victory over hosts SVG in the West Indies Women Cricket Federation

Limited-Overs Knockout final which was contested at the Arnos Vale I Ground.

Only last week Under-19 captain Jason Mohammed and his talented team returned home triumphantly with the TCL (Trinidad Cement Limited) West Indies Youth Challenge League and Limited-overs trophies.

Today, Power and her team-mates will return home with an unblemished record in the 2005 regional cricket tournament. They played unbeaten in both the League and Knockout tournaments.

The women cricketers played positive, purposeful, committed cricket in a tension-filled match which brought out the best of skipper Power in her final match as leader of the Trinidad and Tobago team.

Power has served with distinction and she was the guiding force which saw her team home after they were in trouble at 41 for six and chasing 91 runs for victory off 41 overs.

Power featured in a match-winning 50-run unbroken seventh wicket partnership with fellow West Indian player Envis Williams who remained unbeaten on 16.

The captain made an invaluable undefeated 21 and their exploits sparked wild celebrations among the "Trinis," having beaten the homesters decisively to retain the WIWCF Knockout Trophy.

WI player Nelly Williams, who opened the batting, made 12 and TT lost their first wicket at 21 when Maurisa Aquillera was adjudged LBW for three.

Erica George and Sunita Naipaulsingh were bowled by Earlene DeGrads for one and six respectively.

Williams was bowled by John and then Jade Chadee was run out for two and LeeAnn Kirby LBW to DeGrads for no score. But the skipper together with all-rounder Envis Williams, engineered the grand recovery and eventual victory.

Earlier, St Vincent and the Grenadines, fought bravely but were subdued by the excellent bowling spells especially from WI 16-year-old spinner Anisa Mohammed who emerged as the chief destroyer with four wickets for 18 from 8.4 overs.

She was well supported by Jade Chadee (8-1-18-2), Envis Williams (5-0-10-2) and Felicia Cummings (5-1-15-1).

Opening bowlers LeeAnn Kirby (7-1-11-0) and Kirbyna Alexander (7-0-15-0), although did not claim any wicket, bowled well and finished with impressive analyses.

WI player Cordell Jack, who won the "MVP" last year, topscored for her team with 13.

TT’s manager Marjorie Thomas was elated with the victories and described them as "well deserved for excellent teamwork."

"We played positively and the entire team rallied around the captain Stephanie Power who has been a tower of strength for us over the years. And winning the double was a fitting send-off for her in her final year as captain. She brought her ship home and we are all very excited and happy for this victory."

"It was not easy winning back the titles. But the players never panicked and gave their best to come back home a winning team. We wanted both trophies and we got them. And we are proud of all the players on this team.

And all Trinidadians should be happy and proud of what we have achieved again," she said.

TT also shared the double crowns in the 2003 when they played in Grenada. They eventually got six players on the West Indies team that year.

No country in the Caribbean can match their achievements of Trinidad and Tobago’s teams having also won the WICB’s President’s Cup, Regional CLICO Under-15 tournament, TCL Under-19 titles and also the annual Under-13 exchange with Barbados.