The Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) is gearing up for a high-stakes playoff showdown on Wednesday at Bridgetown’s iconic Kensington Oval, where Barbados Tridents will battle Guyana for a coveted spot in the tournament’s 2024 final. A win would cement Barbados Tridents’ place in cricket history as the only franchise to qualify for every WCPL final since the tournament’s launch in 2022, extending the three-time defending champions’ record-breaking run ahead of a final match-up against Trinbago Knight Riders on Thursday.
Leading her side into the do-or-die clash, Tridents captain and ICC’s top-ranked women’s T20 all-rounder Hayley Matthews says her squad is focused and ready to chase the unprecedented milestone. “As a group, our goal is to step onto the pitch, get the win, and etch our names in history as the only team to reach the final every single year of the tournament,” Matthews said. “We’re all excited for this match, but make no mistake — this is going to be one of the biggest games we’ve played all tournament.”
The upcoming fixture carries extra weight for the Tridents, who fell to Guyana in a narrow third group-stage defeat earlier this month. “We faced them not long ago and they came out on top that day,” Matthews acknowledged. “This will be a fun contest, but it’s without a doubt a huge test for our side.”
Over the course of the Tridents’ three-year title reign, the franchise has been pushed to the brink in multiple high-pressure matches, and Matthews says these tight contests have become a valuable growth tool for the entire squad, especially younger players. “It’s easy to perform well when everything feels comfortable and the game is going your way,” she explained. “But when you’re in those tight moments where the result could go either way, you have to lock in and get the job done right then and there. Those moments teach you how to handle high-stakes situations no matter how they swing. For our younger players especially, getting to experience this pressure first-hand, and then put in all the hard work they’ve done at training into practice when it matters most, is an incredible opportunity.”
Despite her own status as the world’s top all-rounder in the format, Matthews was quick to credit the team’s collective unity and shared winning mentality for the Tridents’ ongoing success as one of the most formidable sides in the league. “When we walk out onto the field, we try to take the pressure off ourselves,” she said. “Our focus is on enjoying the game, not obsessing over the final result. I think the camaraderie we have in this group, combined with our never-give-up attitude, means we’re always confident, and we fight all the way to the last ball. That’s what keeps putting us in a position to win.”
For their part, Guyana enters Wednesday’s playoff carrying a psychological edge after their September 13 group-stage victory over the Tridents. Guyana captain Chloe Tryon says the momentum from that win has helped her squad build the right mindset heading into the do-or-die match.
Tryon highlighted her side’s depth and adaptability as key strengths heading into the clash. “We’ve had different players step up in different high-pressure situations this tournament, and that’s a really good sign for us,” Tryon said. “The flexibility we have in our line-up is a huge asset, and every girl knows exactly what our goals are. No matter what scenario the game throws at us, we’re ready to adjust as much as we need to. Having players step up and take responsibility when it matters gives us great depth through our entire batting line-up, which sets us up well for this contest.”