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Barbados Royals Clinch Back-to-Back WCPL Titles with Dominant Win Over Trinbago Knight Riders

Barbados Royals Clinch Back-to-Back WCPL Titles
Credit: CPL via Getty Images.

The Barbados Royals have once again asserted their dominance in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), claiming their second consecutive title with a four-wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders in the 2024 final at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad.

Led by the soon-to-be-crowned Player of the Tournament, Hayley Matthews, the Royals put on a clinical performance. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Matthews set the tone by dismissing the dangerous Deandra Dottin for just six runs, delivering a perfect ball that zipped off the wicket and rattled the stumps. This early breakthrough was followed by Chinelle Henry’s sharp return catch to remove Jemimah Rodrigues, leaving the Knight Riders reeling at 10/2 within the first three overs.

Despite some resistance from Jannillea Glasgow and Shikha Pandey, who scored 24 and 28 runs respectively, the Knight Riders struggled to build momentum. They slumped from 53/3 in the eleventh over to 75/8 by the 17th, largely due to a disciplined bowling display by the Royals. The Knight Riders’ inability to find the boundary consistently—managing just two sixes and six fours in their innings—saw them post a modest total of 93/8, which never seemed likely to challenge the Royals.

Chamari Athapaththu spearheaded the Royals’ chase, attacking the target with a series of boundaries that quickly put the game beyond the Knight Riders’ reach. The Sri Lankan all-rounder, who had earlier expressed her love for the WCPL and its unique atmosphere, played a pivotal role, remaining unbeaten on 39 and sealing the victory with five overs to spare.

Aaliyah Alleyne was the star with the ball for the Royals, delivering a Player of the Match performance with figures of 4/21. Her disciplined line and ability to apply pressure forced the Knight Riders into making mistakes, and her energetic celebrations added to the spectacle of the final.

Despite some late jitters as wickets fell in quick succession, the Royals remained in control, with Athapaththu anchoring the innings. Her composed knock ensured that the Royals crossed the finish line comfortably, sparking jubilant celebrations from her teammates as they swarmed the pitch in their signature pink, celebrating a well-deserved second WCPL title.

Brief Scores:

Trinbago Knight Riders Women: 93/8 in 20 overs (Shikha Pandey 28, Jannillea Glasgow 24; Aaliyah Alleyne 4/21, Hayley Matthews 2/13)

Barbados Royals Women: 94/6 in 15 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 39*, Laura Harris 15; Samara Ramnath 2/18, Shikha Pandey 1/19)

Result: Barbados Royals Women won by 4 wickets.
Player of the Match: Aaliyah Alleyne (Barbados Royals Women)
Player of the Series: Hayley Matthews (Barbados Royals Women)

This victory cements the Barbados Royals’ place as a powerhouse in women’s Caribbean cricket, with their blend of international stars and local talent proving too strong for the competition once again.