分类： sports

A new chapter of women’s one-day international cricket gets underway in Harare on Thursday, as the West Indies Women take on Zimbabwe in the opening fixture of their six-point ICC Women’s Championship series, with the Caribbean side gunning for a fourth consecutive ODI victory.

West Indies head into the contest riding high on momentum, having secured three straight wins during their tour of Ireland back in July. That run of form has left them fifth in the latest ICC ODI rankings, a solid position as they push for automatic qualification to the next 50-over World Cup. The hosts, by contrast, enter the series searching for their first win in five consecutive ODI outings against Pakistan and New Zealand, and sit 10th in the global rankings. This series marks a key milestone for Zimbabwe, which is competing in its first year as a full member of the ICC Championship.

There have been several key changes to the West Indies squad ahead of the series. All-rounder Chinelle Henry has made a full recovery from the injury she sustained during the T20 World Cup in June and is available for selection, star all-rounder Deandra Dottin will miss the entire tour after being granted personal leave. Skipper Hayley Matthews will lead the side through the ODI leg of the tour before stepping away for the subsequent three-match T20 series to take planned leave.

In pre-series press comments, Matthews emphasized her squad’s excitement to return to international action in Zimbabwe, and warned against underestimating the growing host side. “I think all the girls are happy to be back and are looking forward to the series. Zimbabwe are obviously a growing team in their first year within the ICC championship, so I know they’re certainly going to be coming out hard and playing some really good cricket,” Matthews said. “They are certainly a side that we can’t underestimate, even though they’re pretty new. We’re still going to need to be playing really well to get the results we want.”

While a series win is the team’s immediate priority, Matthews highlighted that the six championship points on offer are critical to the side’s long-term goal of securing automatic World Cup qualification. A full series sweep would catapult West Indies into a far stronger qualifying position, putting them on track to lock in their spot with strong performances through the rest of 2024 and 2025. “The games here are going to be very important. I think when you look at where we are in the table, automatic qualification for that next World Cup will be very crucial for us. To try to come down here and be able to take all six points, that’s certainly the goal for us,” Matthews explained.

Matthews also noted that transitioning from the shorter T20 format, which her side has played extensively in recent months, to 50-over cricket should pose no major issues for the experienced squad. “It’s obviously a longer format. You’ve got a bit more time at the crease, so you probably need to be more consistent in areas with the ball. I feel like we’ve certainly played enough ODI cricket as a team that we understand what we want to do and the way we want to go about playing, even though we’ve been on the back of a lot of T20 cricket,” she added.

For Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo, hosting the series is a momentous occasion, particularly with a young, hungry squad at her disposal. “We’ve got a bunch of youngsters and I’m super excited that I got the opportunity to lead them. What makes it more special is that it’s on home turf,” Nkomo said. The skipper framed her side’s goal simply: compete hard, play positive cricket, and prove that results can come down to performance, not reputation. “The goal is just to compete, just go out there, just be positive [because] at the end of the day, cricket is a game of bat and ball and not names or anything like that,” she explained.

Nkomo added that the team has had plenty of recent competitive game time, which she believes will help the side turn around its current winless streak and deliver an improved performance in front of home fans. She also made a public appeal for local supporters to turn out in force, noting that fan energy lifted the team during recent matches in Bulawayo. “I would really appreciate it if we could have people coming out to support us. When we played in Bulawayo, we had quite a number of fans turning up, and that was quite a good atmosphere for us, which made us just continue pushing and fighting till the last ball. If we could have some numbers coming through, that would be great,” Nkomo said.

Two of Barbados’ brightest young triathlon talents, Alexis Lashley and Luke McIntyre, are set to compete this Thursday at the 202X Junior World Triathlon Championships hosted in Pontevedra, Spain. For supporters back home, Lashley’s swim leg will get underway at 4:15 a.m. Barbados time, with McIntyre starting his race an hour and 30 minutes later at 5:45 a.m. local Barbados time.

In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY from the Spanish host city, Dr. Garth McIntyre, President of the Barbados Federation of Island Triathletes, shared that the build-up to this elite global competition has gone according to plan for both athletes.

“Both athletes earned their spots at the championships through a rigorous qualification process at the Americas Triathlon Championship held in Chile earlier this July,” Dr. McIntyre explained. “They have stuck to consistent training schedules through the summer months, completed a solid pre-competition training block, and have not faced any injuries or setbacks that would disrupt their preparation.”

Since arriving in Pontevedra, the pair have already completed on-site training sessions for both the open water swim and running segments, and are currently out completing a practice bike ride as they finalize their race preparations, Dr. McIntyre added.

According to the federation president, the race conditions in Pontevedra are expected to be a good fit for the Barbadian duo, though there are some key environmental factors the team is monitoring. The most notable difference from their home training conditions is the wide daily temperature swing in northwestern Spain, where temperatures currently range from a cool 16 degrees Celsius overnight to a warm 32 degrees Celsius during the daytime. Water temperatures currently sit right at the threshold that would allow athletes to wear wetsuits, a rule that permits wetsuit use only below a set water temperature mark.

“Wetsuits offer competitors a measurable advantage in the water by increasing buoyancy and reducing drag, so nearly all athletes will opt to wear them if the conditions allow. We will just have to wait and see what the official ruling is on race morning,” Dr. McIntyre noted.

The Junior World Triathlon Championships draws the top under-20 triathletes from across the globe, meaning competition will be among the steepest that Lashley and McIntyre have ever faced. With that context, Dr. McIntyre said the federation holds realistic expectations for the young pair.

“It might sound like we are downplaying our chances, but our main focus right now is on solid race execution and making the most of every opportunity that comes up during the event,” he explained. “Our core priority for this appearance is athlete development, because both athletes will be eligible to compete again at this same event next year.”

Dr. McIntyre emphasized that this level of global competition is far more challenging than any event the pair has competed in previously, so no matter what final positions they earn, there will be no disappointment from the Barbadian triathlon community. His main message to the athletes is to embrace the experience, enjoy the race and expand their international competition experience.

“For both athletes, this championship is essentially a preparatory experience for next year’s event. It gives them a chance to see where they stand against the world’s best and identify what areas they need to improve on going forward,” Dr. McIntyre explained. “Of course, if they exceed expectations and turn in a great performance, we will be absolutely thrilled. But we all know this is a tough field, and a top finish is going to be hard to pull off this time around.”

As the CONCACAF Nations League prepares to kick off its latest edition, the Barbados Men’s National Football Team, nicknamed the Bajan Tridents, has finalized its 24-player roster and is counting down to departure for their opening Group B fixture. The full squad, which includes both domestic-based players and those plying their trade overseas, has completed all pre-tournament preparations in Barbados and is scheduled to travel on Wednesday to face off against first opponents Saint Lucia.

The opening match between the Tridents and Saint Lucia will take place this Friday at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, with a second group stage fixture against Bermuda booked for the same venue on September 28. Following the two away games, Barbados will return home to host Bermuda in consecutive matches at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey, set for October 2 and 5. For the Tridents, this Nations League campaign represents a critical opportunity to establish themselves as a competitive force in the Caribbean sub-region.

Speaking to reporters during a Tuesday training session at the BFA Technical Centre, head coach Kent Hall shared that the squad has gelled smoothly in camp, with all overseas-based players now arrived and fully integrated. Hall, who struck an optimistic tone ahead of the team’s opening fixtures, noted that the entire group is in high spirits as they put the finishing touches on their game plan. “Everyone’s in good spirits, and the guys are now reconnecting, so we’re really excited about getting out there and polishing up a little bit, but yeah, so far so good,” Hall commented.

Hall also acknowledged the challenge that awaits his side in the opening match, recalling that Saint Lucia claimed victory in the most recent meeting between the two national sides. The head coach highlighted Saint Lucia’s signature playing style, noting that “Most St Lucian sides that I’ve seen, they tend to be full of running and they always bring a pretty physical game, so we expect that. That’s the nature of senior football so we’re ready for that.”

Team captain Andre Applewaithe, one of the Tridents’ US-based players, shares the coaching staff’s excitement ahead of the opening doubleheader. Applewaithe, who plies his trade for CT United, noted that cohesion within the camp has been strong, with players building chemistry quickly ahead of Friday’s clash. “The guys are communicating well with one another, gelling well in the camp, and we’re just preparing for the first game at hand against Saint Lucia,” the captain explained.

Applewaithe also pointed to the fresh energy this squad brings, highlighting the number of uncapped players earning their first call-ups to the senior side. “This squad has a lot of new faces, a lot of players getting their first cap, so it’ll be exciting as they mix with the other guys who are coming back and are ready to give their all to represent Barbados as well,” he added. The captain emphasized that the team is not focused on past results against Group B opponents, instead approaching this tournament with a reset mindset. “Yeah, it’s going to be a different mindset, as I said, it’s a new campaign so everything is fresh and what has passed has passed. We’re just looking forward to do the best we can against some very good sides,” Applewaithe said.

One of the team’s most in-form players heading into the tournament is winger Thierry Gale, who currently lines up for English Championship side Bolton Wanderers. Gale has turned heads with his consistent goalscoring form in one of Europe’s most competitive second-tier leagues, and the winger says he is keen to carry that momentum over into international duty. “I mean, life in the championship is good, as you can see. I’m enjoying it and just want to keep scoring more goals and making everybody happier,” Gale said during Tuesday’s training session.

The winger laid out his clear personal and team objectives for the opening matches, stating that he hopes to find the back of the net in each fixture while helping Barbados secure positive results. Now a veteran presence in the national set-up, Gale says his core motivation has not changed since he first earned a call-up. “My ambition was always to play with the national team and always to get Barbados as far as I could. I am still the same person, and still humble,” he added.

With preparations wrapping up and travel imminent, all eyes are on the Tridents as they look to get their Nations League campaign off to a winning start in Saint Lucia on Friday.

The Prime Minister’s Cup tournament kicked back into action this week with two hotly contested Group D fixtures at The Glebe in St George on Monday, delivering a stunning comeback victory and a surprise underdog win that shook up the group standings.

In the opening match of the evening, Deacons pulled off the most dramatic turnaround of the season so far, rallying from an early two-goal deficit to crush Chickmont 6-2. Chickmont got off to a flying start that no one saw coming, with striker Demar Stone netting the fastest goal of the entire competition just 60 seconds into the game. The situation worsened quickly for Deacons, when Norrin Corbin doubled Chickmont’s advantage in the 10th minute, putting Deacons on the brink of an early upset.

But Deacons refused to fold, beginning their comeback in the 24th minute when Shamaine Richards cut the deficit to one. Just five minutes later, Tevin Barker-Savoury equalized, leaving Chickmont stunned heading into the halftime break with the score tied at 2-2. Deacons turned the game completely on its head in the second half, taking control of possession and pouring on constant pressure. Richards scored his second of the night in the 55th minute to put Deacons up 3-2, and just seconds later, Xavier Bayne stretched the lead to 4-2, leaving Chickmont reeling.

Player-of-the-Match and Deacons captain Shaquon Haynes put the final nail in the coffin, scoring a late brace: his first came in the 79th minute, followed by a third goal for the captain three minutes later, sealing the lopsided 6-2 final score.

Speaking after the match, Haynes credited his team’s mental toughness for the comeback. “I did not expect Chickmont to score in the first 25 seconds of the game, but I just had to lift my team’s spirit and we fought back from there,” he said. Assembled ahead of the Brittons Hill tournament, the Deacons squad is made up mostly of First Division players, with several younger prospects also mixing into the roster. Haynes added that he never doubted his side would pull out the win, even after the shaky start: “I did not expect the score to be 6-2, I was expecting it to be 6-0 because they could not beat us. Once we enjoy ourselves and play football we always come back from two goals down all the time.”

In the night’s second fixture, Wotton pulled off a hard-fought 1-0 upset over Ellerton, with captain Keon Harding’s spectacular first-half free kick proving to be the difference. The game’s only goal came in the 13th minute, after Ellerton conceded a dangerous set piece 25 yards from goal, on the right side of the penalty area. Harding stepped up to take the kick, curling a stunning strike over the defensive wall that nestled just under the crossbar, leaving Ellerton goalkeeper Jamar Brewster with no chance to make a save.

The opportunity for the free kick came moments after Brewster had denied Rivaldo Massiah from the penalty spot, leaving Wotton unable to take an early lead from the spot. It was the chaotic scramble to clear the rebound from the saved penalty that led to the foul that set up Harding’s match-winning strike. It is Wotton’s first major result under new head coach Fabian Massiah, and the three points pushes the side forward in the tournament’s group stage.

After the final whistle, Harding expressed his satisfaction with the result and the team’s new direction under the first-year manager. “It feels great to help my team win the match and get the three points so that we can go forward in the tournament,” he said. “The work that the coach has come in and done with us has given the guys a different feeling. We came out and executed what the coach put out for us in training and we got the three points.”