分类： sports

The opening round of the 202X Prime Minister’s Cup Group B fixtures delivered two compelling matches on a rain-soaked Tuesday night, with standout individual performances carrying both Ivy Rovers and Brittons Hill United to convincing wins over their respective opponents.

At the Friendship Playing Field in St Michael, Jarad Maximus emerged as the undisputed star of the night, netting a hat-trick to anchor Ivy Rovers to a dominant 4-1 triumph over Pinelands. The striker got his side’s campaign off to a flying start just 10 minutes in, converting a clinical penalty to put Ivy Rovers in front. The lead doubled 18 minutes later, when Jamario Nichols finished a well-crafted team attack inside the 18-yard box, capitalizing on excellent build-up play from Rovers’ right wing that split Pinelands’ defensive shape.

Maximus notched his second of the night before halftime, capping a dynamic first-half display that would ultimately earn him Player-of-the-Match honors. The wet, slippery pitch and persistent heavy rain created difficult conditions that challenged Pinelands’ backline throughout the second half, and it was this defensive disorganization that allowed Riviera Cottle to stretch Rovers’ advantage to 3-0 in the second period. Pinelands managed a late consolation in the 88th minute, when Lamar Scantlebury got on the end of a long clearance over the top of Rovers’ defense and nodded home past the goalkeeper. But any hopes of a late comeback were snuffed out in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when a Pinelands defensive mistake left Maximus unmarked in space. He slotted home calmly to complete his hat-trick, securing a three-goal winning margin for Ivy Rovers.

Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Maximus said he had come into the match prepared for the physical test of tournament football. “I knew it would be a physical game, so I just listened to the coach, did what I had to do and finished the ball,” he said. “Moving forward you can expect more from me – taking on players and trying to help my teammates to raise their level as well. I know how it feels to go all the way to the final, so I believe that my team can go far and we’re going to try our best.”

In the late-night second fixture of the evening, substitute Jalen Branch delivered a moment of magic, scoring two late goals to carry Brittons Hill United to a 2-0 shutout win over St Andrew Lions. A large contingent of Brittons Hill fans braved steady heavy showers to cheer on their side, and they were rewarded in the 73rd minute when Branch broke the game’s deadlock. T’shane Lorde produced a brilliant piece of skill to create space down the left wing before delivering a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box, where Branch was waiting to tap home from close range.

With St Andrew Lions pushing forward aggressively in stoppage time, throwing bodies forward to find an equalizer, they left their defensive line exposed high up the pitch. Branch took advantage in the 91st minute, shaking off the marking of two Lions center backs before hitting a perfectly judged lob from distance that sailed over the out-of-position goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The goal secured all three points for Brittons Hill.

A delighted Branch noted after the match that he prides himself on being able to make an immediate impact off the bench. “I just need five minutes and I can give the team something for sure,” he said. “In the build up to the competition I did a lot of physical work with the coaches trying to get fit, but I am still not 100 per cent there. I think we can go all the way to the finals again like we did before. I was not in the team back then, but now I am here to help.”

In a rain-disrupted semi-final clash at Kensington Oval on Wednesday, cricket history was made in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League: for the first time since the tournament’s 2022 inception, two-time defending champion Barbados Tridents will not feature in the title decider, after Guyana Amazon Warriors secured a dominant seven-wicket win to knock them out.

Persistent wet weather forced significant alterations to the fixture, delaying the opening toss and trimming the contest to just eight overs per side — a format that turned every single delivery into a high-stakes moment, with no room for slow starts or mid-innings recovery. Sent into bat on a damp pitch by Guyana skipper Chloe Tryon, the Tridents struggled to find consistent rhythm, managing only 69 runs for the loss of four wickets from their allotted overs.

Barbados’ innings was plagued by early setbacks: opener Qiana Joseph retired hurt after scoring just three runs from eight deliveries at the end of the third over, and all-rounder Kiran Navgire fell for a first-ball duck on the first delivery of the fourth over. The most damaging blow came in the sixth over, when Tridents captain and star batter Hayley Matthews was run out for 22 off 14 balls, leaving the lower order with too much work to do in the remaining overs. Maddy Green top-scored for the side with an unbeaten 30 from 16 deliveries, but Guyana’s bowling unit adapted expertly to the tricky wet conditions to keep the target well within reach.

Chasing 70 for a place in the final, the Amazon Warriors faced only one minor early hiccup, losing opener Eboni Brathwaite for two runs in the first over. From there, the chase stayed firmly on track, powered by a match-winning performance from Player of the Match Tazmin Brits. Brits remained unbeaten on 35 off 23 deliveries, cracking three fours and two towering sixes to keep the run rate ticking over, while Shemaine Campbelle contributed a quickfire 22 from 12 balls. The Warriors crossed the finish line at 75 for three, with four deliveries left to spare, booking their spot in Thursday’s championship decider.

They will go head-to-head with Trinbago Knight Riders in the final, a side they already defeated during the group stage of the tournament. Following the upset, Barbados Tridents Chief Operations Officer John Mumby told local outlet Barbados TODAY that the ultra-shortened format created an unlevel playing field that made results hard to predict.

“We were just saying off camera that limited overs (in a T20 game) is always a bit of a lottery. It makes the toss really big and to have lost the toss and then be put into bat on a wet pitch with a wet ball is tricky,” Mumby explained. “I think we did pretty well [to set a 70-run victory target], but yeah, we came up just a little bit short.”

Despite the disappointing early exit, Mumby praised the passionate local support that turned out for the side on home soil. A small but loud crowd cheered the Tridents through every over, and Mumby noted that public enthusiasm for the franchise has grown dramatically this year. “I think the nation has really gotten behind both the men’s and the women’s teams this year, with huge excitement in Barbados around the Tridents identity and the national colours. All through the game you heard ‘let’s go Tridents,’ which was amazing to hear from the school kids and I think that emphasises everything the franchise has tried to do this year,” he added.

Barbados’ annual National Senior Games has undergone a transformative expansion this year, growing to include 25 distinct sporting disciplines while placing unprecedented focus on welcoming older adults with disabilities into competitive and recreational activity. Now in its fourth week of a month-long schedule launched in August, the event has already drawn widespread acclaim for its accessible, community-centered structure, according to Ytannia Wiggins, sports adviser for the games under the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs.

Wiggins called the 202X iteration of the games an exceptional success so far, noting that early competitions including tennis have already wrapped up, while dominoes has remained a constant, ongoing activity throughout the event. The fourth week of the schedule stands out as one of the busiest, with new competitions like hockey kicking off alongside 3×3 basketball and netball finals hosted at the Wildey Gymnasium.

Among the most anticipated upcoming events is the marquee track and field program, with field events set to take place September 19 at Harrison College, and track competitions scheduled for September 26 at the renowned Usain Bolt Sports Complex. A 5K open walk and run will also be held along the Mighty Grynner Highway on September 20, giving casual participants of all ability levels a chance to join in. The entire month of programming will conclude October 1 at Barbados Community College with an active living festival, timed to coincide with the annual International Day of Older Persons. Wiggins describes the event as a “senior Olympics,” where older adults can try any sport that sparks their interest.

The expansion of accessible programming stems from the ministry’s recognition that diverse segments of the older adult community, including those with disabilities, deserve equal opportunities to engage in recreational sports, Wiggins explained. Key inclusive events this year include a celebrity blind cricket match at Briar Hall, alongside blind dominoes and adaptive walking netball. Speaking at the Sunday blind cricket match, Wiggins noted that the sport was selected because it already has an established, enthusiastic base in Barbados, and used the opportunity to reiterate a core message of the games: “disability is not inability.”

Beyond accessibility, the games also prioritize getting activity out into local communities and encouraging older adults to maintain active, healthy lifestyles as they age. Kamal Clarke, managing coordinator of the games, added that the inclusive blind cricket day was designed to bring together three groups—children, older adults, and people with disabilities—for shared recreation. Before taking the field, celebrity participants received training on the rules and adapted play of blind cricket to ensure they could compete alongside disabled community members.

More than 50 people with disabilities took part in the day’s activities, which also included outdoor adaptive simulations, open domino play, and a demonstration of blind domino rules hosted by the National United Society of the Blind. Clarke closed by urging Barbadians of all eligible ages and ability levels to join the ongoing games, emphasizing that the event is designed to be a season of joy, connection, and activity focused on supporting long, high-quality lives for all older adults.

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.”