KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Defending champions Guyana Women pulled off a sensational come-from-behind victory over the Windward Islands Women in the opening match of the T20 Blaze here at Arnos Vale on Tuesday.
Shabika Gajnabi topscored for Guyana Women in their win against the Windward Islands WomenChasing Guyana’s modest total of 96 for five in their 20 overs, the Windward Islands seemed to be cruising to victory at 78-2 at the start of the 18th over, with set batters Jannillea Glasgow and Afy Fletcher at the crease.
But in a stunning turn of events, the Windward Islands lost three wickets, while only adding a further 11 runs, to end their innings on 89 for five at the end of their 20 overs.
Glasgow, who topscored with 41 off 59 balls and Fletcher, who made 33 off 36 balls, shared a 59-run partnership for the third wicket to put the Windward Islands in control following the early losses of opener Ashlene Edward for five and Zaida James for one.
And they looked to have secured a comfortable victory for their side, as they required 19 runs off 17 balls with eight wickets remaining.
And even when Fletcher picked out Shabika Gajnabi at long on off the second ball of Ashmini Munisar’s over, the Windward Islands were still in control at 83-3 with two overs left in the match.
Glasgow and new batter Earnisha Fontaine then scraped five runs from the penultimate over bowled by Gajnabi, leaving them needing nine runs from the final six balls.
However, off spinner Plaffiana Millington bowled Fontaine off the inside edge with her first delivery and without a run added, Glasgow was run out trying to get on strike two balls later to leave the Windwards in a spot of bother at 88 for five.
Millington then bowled superbly to concede just one run in her last three balls to spark wild celebrations as Guyana registered an unlikely victory.
Earlier, Gajnabi hit the topscore of 38 off 37 balls in Guyana’s paltry total after they were sent in to bat.
Munisar, who scored an unbeaten 17 from 20 balls and Mandy Mangru, who made 16 off 26 balls, were the only other batters to score in double figures for Guyana.
