By Anas Ahmed 
Royals seal WCPL 2025 title in dramatic final
The Barbados Royals Women capped off an unbeaten season by edging the Guyana Amazon Warriors Women in a nail-biting 2025 Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) final at Providence. The Royals held their nerve to clinch a three-wicket victory with two balls to spare, securing their third consecutive WCPL crown.
Warriors set a modest target
Put in to bat, the Warriors posted 136/3 from their 20 overs. Opener Amy Hunter top-scored with a patient 29 off 36 balls, but the innings lacked consistent acceleration.
After the early departure of Realeanna Grimmond (17), hopes rested on Stafanie Taylor, but the star all-rounder retired hurt, halting the Warriors’ momentum. Skipper Shemaine Campbelle (28 not out) and Dane van Niekerk (27 not out) added an unbeaten 56-run partnership, ensuring the team reached a respectable total.
Royals rocked early but fight back
The Royals’ chase began shakily with Chamari Athapaththu (25) and Qiana Joseph (4) dismissed in the powerplay. Kycia Knight steadied the innings with 31 (37), while Courtney Webb played a fluent 31 (27) to take the champions close.
However, the Warriors fought back through Ashmini Munisar (3/21) and Nyia Latchman (2/31), reducing the Royals from 108/4 to 110/7 and setting up a tense finale.
Alleyne’s late heroics seal the title
Needing 19 runs off the last two overs, Aaliyah Alleyne changed the game. She smashed a six and a four off Molly Penfold, before finishing unbeaten on 17 off 9 balls. Partner Shreyanka Patil (10 not out) provided crucial support, with the pair adding 27 runs in 14 balls to seal a famous win.
The Royals finished on 137/7 in 19.4 overs, sparking celebrations as they completed a WCPL hat-trick.
Athapaththu dominates tournament
Despite falling in the final, Chamari Athapaththu was named Player of the Series, finishing as the leading run-scorer and also contributing with seven wickets.
For the Warriors, Munisar and Laura Harris (eight wickets each) ended as joint top wicket-takers, but their side once again fell short against their rivals. The Royals now hold a 9-0 head-to-head record over the Warriors in WCPL history.
Brief Scores
Guyana Amazon Warriors Women: 136/3 (Hunter 29, Campbelle 28*, van Niekerk 27*; Connell 1/20, Fletcher 1/36, Alleyne 1/32)
Barbados Royals Women: 137/7 in 19.4 overs (Athapaththu 25, Knight 31, Webb 31; Munisar 3/21, Latchman 2/31)
Result: Royals won by 3 wickets
Player of the Match: Aaliyah Alleyne
Player of the Series: Chamari Athapaththu
Zainab Shafiq