REIGNING Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women's U19 Championship T20 title holders TT bounced back from an opening round loss to seal a four-wicket victory over Leeward Islands at UWI Spec in St Augustine on July 6.
After restricting the visitors to 82/8 from their 20 overs, the hosts rallied to a victorious 83/6, with two balls to spare.
Having won the toss and opting to bat first, Leewards lost their openers Megan Baishya (one) and Katherine Rosarion (duck) cheaply, courtesy of TT bowlers Kenika Cassar and 2024 Secondary School's Cricket League girls' open player of the year Amrtia Ramtahal.
At 2/6, Leewards skipper Jahzara Claxton (42 not out) and Sainvai Kambalapalli (16) steadied the innings temporarily. Kassar struck again for TT soon after, as she caught out Kambalapalli off Jessica O'Rosco's bowling.
The next five wickets fell for a combined ten runs as Claxton was forced to do all the work with the bat.
In the end, Leewards mustered up 82/8, with their skipper leading the charge with her unbeaten knock.
Cassar topped TT's bowling with 2/15 while O'Rosco (1/9), Brianna Harricharan (1/12) and Ramtahal (1/21) took one apiece.
In their turn at the crease, TT lost opener Ramtahal (seven) early on but TT skipper Samara Ramnath (35) held firm.
Harricharan (six), Katrina Ruben (four) and Sameera Naidoo (duck) did show much fight but Cassar's middle-order knock of 11 not out proved pivotal in the final overs.
Kirah Manpaul scored two not out and together, she and Cassar took TT over the line to notch their first win of the competition.
For Leewards, Kimberley Anthony (2/19) was their best bowler while Claxton and Courtney Browne snagged 1/10 each.
In their first match against Guyana on July 4, TT lost by a narrow four-run margin at Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba.
Other round two matches on July 6 saw Guyana extend their streak to two wins in as many matches as they thumped Jamaica by 81 runs at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex.
Batting first Guyana scored 113/7, led by Naomi Barkoye (46) and Realeanna Grimmond (31).
In reply, Jamaica struggled with the bat and were whittled away for 52 in 15.2 overs. Abigail Bryce (14) and Moniqueca Reid (12) were their top scorers but it was Guyana's Danielle Manns (4/15), Nyia Latchman (2/8) and Trisha Hardat (2/11) who dismantled Jamaica's line-up of batters.
In the other match between the Windward Islands and Barbados U19s at BLCA, rain forced a no result.
Windwards batted first and made a low score of 74/9 after 20 overs. However, the heavens opened and Barbados were never given a chance to respond.
Round three matches bowl off on July 7 with TT taking on Jamaica at UWI Spec ground from 10am.
Leewards meet Windward Islands in Diego Martin and Barbados lock horns with Guyana at BLCA. All matches begin at 10am.
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