标签： Saint Lucia

In a remarkable display of resilience, the Windward Islands women’s cricket team decisively overturned their recent T20 Blaze disappointment with a commanding 91-run triumph against defending champions Trinidad and Tobago in their CG United Women’s Super50 Cup opener on January 27th. The match, held at Sion Hill Playing Field in St Vincent and the Grenadines, saw the Windwards post an impressive 225-7 before dismantling their opponents for a mere 134 runs.

Despite losing opener Ashlene Edwards early for just 4 runs after Trinidad and Tobago captain Karishma Ramharack elected to field first, the Windwards built a formidable innings through strategic partnerships. Saint Lucian opener Zaida James established a solid foundation with veteran Afy Fletcher, contributing 38 runs from 85 deliveries before her dismissal.

The innings’ centerpiece emerged through Fletcher’s brilliant collaboration with Jannillea Glasgow, who orchestrated a devastating 101-run partnership in just 14.1 overs. Fletcher eventually departed for a well-crafted 61 runs, while Glasgow demonstrated exceptional stamina, remaining until the final over to accumulate 73 runs from 88 balls, including nine boundaries. Nadia Mohammed emerged as Trinidad’s most effective bowler with figures of 2-42, though her team’s discipline waned with 30 extras conceded.

Trinidad and Tobago’s response proved disastrous from the outset, collapsing to 56-6 within 17 overs against the Windwards’ disciplined bowling attack. Only a late 70-run partnership between Lee-Ann Kirby (31) and captain Ramharack (29) provided temporary resistance before the team folded after 33.2 overs. Fletcher showcased her all-round capabilities with outstanding bowling figures of 4-23 from 8.2 overs, while Glasgow complemented with 2-14 from her four-over spell.

The victory sets an optimistic tone for the Windwards as they prepare to face the Leeward Islands at Cumberland Playing Field on Thursday, who suffered a 79-run defeat against Barbados in their tournament opener.

South Africa delivered a commanding performance to crush the West Indies by nine wickets in the opening match of the KFC T20 International series at Boland Park in Paarl on January 27. The victory marked South Africa’s largest margin of victory by wickets against the Caribbean side in T20 history.

The match, which served as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, saw the West Indies competing without regular captain Shai Hope, who was rested for the fixture. Roston Chase assumed leadership duties for his 50th T20 international appearance.

After winning the toss and electing to field, South African captain Aiden Markram’s decision proved immediately justified as the Proteas restricted the visitors to 57/3 during the powerplay period. The West Indies’ innings struggled to gain momentum despite a resilient sixth-wicket partnership between Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer, who combined for a crucial 74-run stand off 50 deliveries. Their efforts propelled the Caribbean side to a seemingly competitive total of 173/7 from their allotted 20 overs.

South Africa’s response was nothing short of dominant, with openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Markram launching a blistering assault that yielded 68 runs without loss during the powerplay. The West Indies’ fielding woes compounded their troubles when both Pretorius (on 21) and Markram (on 27) were dropped in the field. Pretorius eventually fell for 44, but Markram continued his destructive innings, smashing 86 runs from just 47 deliveries. Ryan Rickelton provided supporting fire with an unbeaten 40 as South Africa cruised to victory with 9 wickets and 20 balls to spare.

Millet/Vanard delivered a commanding performance to secure their place in the championship final of the John Estephane Veterans T20 Tapeball Tournament with a decisive seven-wicket triumph over L’Abayee. The match, held at Balata Playing Field on January 26, showcased Millet/Vanard’s comprehensive dominance in both bowling and batting departments.

L’Abayee, opting to bat first after winning the toss, struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Millet/Vanard bowling attack. Their innings concluded at 126-6 after the allotted overs, with Julius Archie Simon providing the primary resistance through a determined knock of 53 runs. Shalamia Biscette offered secondary support with 21 runs. The bowling effort from Millet/Vanard was notably collective, with Justus Leo leading the attack by capturing two wickets. Avitus James, Bradley Giddings, Shervon Leo, and David Justin each contributed significantly with one wicket apiece, demonstrating well-coordinated team execution.

The chase proved remarkably straightforward for Millet/Vanard, who reached their target of 127 in a mere 14 overs, losing only three wickets in the process. The victory was anchored by a spectacular batting display from Aloysius Charles, who smashed a rapid 54 runs, effectively dismantling the opposition’s bowling strategy. He received substantial support from Marvin Charles, whose contribution of 31 runs further solidified their team’s commanding position and seamless path to victory.

This emphatic win propels Millet/Vanard into the tournament final, scheduled for February 1 again at the Balata Playing Field. They are set to compete against fellow finalists Mini Bus in what anticipates being a highly competitive summit clash. The final is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start and will be preceded by the third-place playoff encounter between L’Abayee and Combined Vets.

Megan Nestor, a senior forward for the University of North Texas, has officially ascended to the pinnacle of NCAA Division I women’s basketball, securing her status as the nation’s most dominant rebounder. The latest statistical report from the U.S. collegiate athletics organization, dated January 26, confirms her position at the top.

The 6-foot-4 transfer from Saint Lucia delivered yet another historic performance on January 23, amassing a staggering 27 rebounds alongside 19 points achieved with remarkable efficiency on just nine field goal attempts. This monumental effort marks the third occasion this season she has exceeded 20 rebounds in a single game and the second time within a week. Nestor now possesses the two highest single-game rebound totals in the entire NCAA this season, having previously hauled in 31 boards back in December.

Despite Nestor’s individual brilliance, the Mean Green suffered a narrow 57-53 defeat to Tulsa at the Super Pit. The loss places their overall record at 11-9 and 5-3 within the American Conference. North Texas controlled the contest for the majority of the afternoon, leading for over 33 minutes of game time and holding Tulsa to a season-low 18 first-half points. However, a scoring drought in the final stretch ultimately resulted in their ninth loss.

Nestor’s 27-rebound outing stands as the second-most prolific performance in the history of the American Conference, trailing only her own record-setting December game. Her season averages have soared to 13.2 rebounds and 265 total boards, both leading the nation. In conference play, her dominance is even more pronounced, averaging 13.6 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, accompanied by six double-doubles.

Head Coach Jason Burton praised her incredible achievement, stating, ‘Talk about another NCAA-type record performance. You’d hope that comes in a win, so as a staff, we’ll keep at it. We’ll keep trying to figure some things out.’ Nestor’s season places her among an elite group, as one of only four players nationwide averaging a double-double with at least 12 points and 12 rebounds per game.