The Barbados Royals showcased a dominant performance against the Trinbago Knight Riders in the 3rd match of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League at Providence. In a high-stakes encounter, the Royals emerged victorious by a comprehensive margin of 59 runseffectively securing a crucial win to strengthen their position in the tournament standings.

The match was defined by a magnificent all-around performance from Royals’ star player Chamari athapaththuwhose contributions with both bat and ball proved instrumental. Her heroics set the stage for a convincing win that left the Knight Riders with no answers and solidified the Royals’ campaign.

Barbados Royals’ innings: A tale of two halves

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Barbados Royals got off to a blistering start, primarily driven by their openers Athapaththu and Qiana Joseph. The duo put on a solid 59-run partnership, with Joseph taking charge and bringing up her half-century off just 37 balls, featuring a brisk display of eight boundaries and two sixes. However, after the dismissal of Athapaththu for 14, the Royals’ innings took a dramatic turn.

The Trinbago bowlers, led by the experienced Deandra Dottintriggered a significant collapse in the middle order. Dottin claimed two quick wickets, and the team lost four wickets for just 29 runs, slumping to 89 for 4. Despite this setback, the Royals managed to recover, thanks to a stabilizing innings from Kycia Knightwho scored an unbeaten 33, and a quick cameo from Aaliyah Alleyne. Their efforts helped the team post a competitive total of 137/6, a score that felt achievable on the surface.

Trinbago Knight Riders’ collapse and Chamari Athapaththu’s bowling masterclass

In response to the Royals’ total, the Riders’ run chase got off to a disastrous start. The team was under immense pressure from the very first over and lost their first four wickets for just 25 runs during the powerplay, a performance that derailed their chase before it could even begin. The collapse was largely orchestrated by the disciplined Royals bowlers, with Sheneta Grimmond claiming two early wickets.

However, the true game-changing spell came from Player of the Match, Athapaththu, who followed up her earlier batting contribution with a devastating bowling performance. She ripped through the Riders’ middle order, claiming four wickets for a mere seven runs in her three overs. This spell proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the Trinbago side. The team never recovered from the early blows and was eventually bowled out for a paltry 78 in just 15.3 overs, resulting in a 59-run defeat. The performance highlighted the Royals’ depth and cemented Athapaththu’s status as a top all-rounder in the league.

This article was first published at WomenCricket.coma Read company.