Hayley Matthews helps Barbados Royals to WCPL title

Barbados Royals continued their dominance in the second edition of the Women's Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) to lift the trophy on Sunday (September 10). They beat Guyana Amazon Warriors by eight runs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad to clinch their maiden title. Skipper Hayley Matthews led from the front with an all-round performance that saw her score 82 off 59 balls before picking up two wickets.

Royals won three matches in double round-robin group stage to become the first team to make it to the final. Even though they lost to Trinbago Knight Riders in their last match, they were favourites going into the summit clash. On the other hand, Amazon Warriors beat defending champions Knight Riders in the final group fixture to make it to the final.

Put into bat first, Royals' opening pair of Matthews and Gaby Lewis added 36-run for the opening wicket. After Shabnim Ismail accounted for Lewis, Matthews put in other 108 runs for the second wicket with Rashada Williams.

However, once the partnership between Matthews and Williams was broken by Ismail, Amazon Warriors came back into the match thanks to the four-wicket haul from Ismail and a couple of run outs. Eventually, Royals finished on 169 for 7 in stipulated overs thanks to a four-ball ten-run cameo from Amanda-Jade Wellington

For Amazon Warriors, Ismail picked up four wickets for 30 runs while Shreyanka Patil bowled a maiden in the 18th over to finish on 1 for 25 from her four overs.

In the chase, Amazon Warriors started well by scoring 47 runs in the power play. But they lost the big wickets of Sophie Devine and Stafanie Taylor in 6.1 overs.

From 47 for 2, Suzie Bates and Shemaine Campbelle took the Guyana side over the 100-run mark and it seemed like Campeblle in the company of Natasha McLean would take them home.

However, after McLean was run out for 28 off 17 balls, Wellington struck thrice in an over to shift the momentum towards the Barbados side. Eventually Amazon Warriors fell short despite an unbeaten 47 off 25 balls from Campbelle.

For Royals, Wellington finished with incredible figures of 4 for 23 while Matthews capped off her day with two wickets. She was named the player of the final for her all-round performance. This is Matthews' second franchise title this year having won the Women's Premier League (WPL) with Mumbai Indians. She was the Most Valuable Player in the India-based franchise league.

Devine, who scored 253 runs and picked up five wickets, was named the player of the series for her stellar peformances for Amazon Warriors during the season.

Brief Scores: Barbados Royals 169/7 in 20 overs (Hayley Matthews 82, Rashada Williams 36; Shabnim Ismail 4/30) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 161/8 in 20 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 47*, Suzie Bates 36; Amanda-Jade Wellington 4/23) by 8 runs POTM: Hayley Matthews POTS: Sophie Devine