Americas XI loss and rain does not dampen great event
The Americas region women's XI lost to the Trinidad & Tobago Development XI by 29 runs (D/L method)
Twelve players named for future ICC Americas Women's Academy
The showpiece finale of the second ICC Americas Women's Championship was hampered but not halted by torrential rain and lightning warnings, resulting in a 29-run D/L method win for the talented and young Trinidad & Tobago Development XI over the representative Americas XI.
Originally scheduled to be played at Brian Picollo Park, which was inundated by heavy rain early in the day, the fixture was moved to the Central Broward Regional Park, and reduced from a 40-over contest to a 25-over match.
Electing to bat, the T&T combination got off to a bright start, with openers Devika Singh (34 off 48 balls, two fours) and Rackeal Bisoon (27 off 52 balls) adding 62 runs in 13 overs for the first wicket. However, the Americas XI fought back, taking six wickets for five runs at one stage, and eventually restricting their opposition to 109-9 in 23.2 overs before a lightning warning brought the innings to a premature close.
Young Argentina off-spinner Sofia Retamales starred with the ball, taking 2-14 in four overs, and also completing two run outs. Joanna White also bowled well, taking 2-8 in two overs.
In what can only be described as a nightmare start, the Americas XI lost two wickets to run outs off the first two balls in their reply - both batters dismissed without facing a ball. It was a start from which the team never ultimately recovered, with only Bermudan Terry Lynn Paynter offering some real resistance with an innings of 20 runs off 23 balls with a four.
Having been set a revised target of 79 to win in 15 overs after weather interruptions, the Americas XI could only manage 50 for the loss of six wickets in 15 overs, thus giving victory to the T&T XI, for whom Sarona Samaroo was the best bowler with 2-4 in two overs.
Tournament presentations were concluded after the game, and successful defending champions Canada received the ICC Americas Women's Championship trophy for the second time.
Final team placing and regional rankings were as follows:
- Canada
- USA
- Argentina
- Bermuda
- Brazil
At the ceremony, the Trinidad & Tobago Development XI, after being thanked for their contribution to the event and women's cricket development in the region, received the Americas T20 trophy.
Final placings in the T20 tournament were:
- Trinidad & Tobago Development XI
- Canada
- Argentina
- USA
- Bermuda / Brazil
Individual prize winners were also announced, and these included:
Player of the Tournament: Mona Persaud (Canada)
Best Batter: Dirce Yuli (Argentina)
Best Bowler: Isoline Sutherland (USA)
Best Fielder: Juliana Brito (Brazil)
Best Wicket-keeper: Devika Singh (T&T Development XI)
ICC Americas also announced the twelve players selected to attend a future regional women's training academy, which included: Dirce Yuli, Sofia Retamales, Mercedes Esperon (all Argentina), Jenay Edness, Akeyla Furbert (both Bermuda), Juliana Brito, Luiza Paranhos (both Brazil), Mona Persaud, Meara Crawford, Mikaela Turik (all Canada), Sonakshi Sagar and Candacy Atkins (both USA).
It was an extremely successful tournament, with all teams showing improvement, especially Argentina, which recorded historic T20 wins over Bermuda and USA, as well as a bright debut appearance by fellow South Americans Brazil. It was also pleasing to see the USA make a first appearance at this event, and they finished runners-up to champions Canada. These two teams will now go forward to meet at a future date in a three-match series to determine which of them will represent the Americas region at the next ICC Women?s World Cup qualifying tournament.
