PROVIDENCE, Guyana – Table toppers Barbados defeated second place Jamaica by 25 runs in the fourth round of the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze tournament on Monday. The victory means the Bajans will maintain their lead over Jamaica heading into the fifth and final round on Tuesday at the Guyana National Stadium.

Being sent into bat first, Hayley Matthews played a captain’s knock and scored her highest score of the tournament – a priceless 74 not out off 63 balls with nine boundaries. Matthews and Kycia Knight put on 50 for the first wicket, the highest opening partnership of the tournament. Kycia fell for 14 (19 balls, 2x4). Matthews continued her free scoring, taking Barbados to defendable 129-4 from 20 overs. Corrine Howell was the best bowler for Jamaica, taking 4-0-27-2, followed by Vanessa Watts 4-1-10-1.

Scorecard here

Stafanie Taylor and Chedean Nation looked set to chase the target after Jamaica lost both openers by the fourth over. Nation and Taylor showed their experience by rotating the strike and shared a 34-run partnership before Nation fell for 26 (28 balls,4x4). Lower down the batting order, Henry and Jerona Walcott had another valiant 29-run partnership before Henry was bowled by Aaliyah Alleyne for 24 (26 balls, 1x4). Jamaica finished their 20-overs on 104-6, 25 runs short of their target. Aaliyah Alleyne was again impressive and was the best Barbados bowler with figures of 4-0-20-2 followed by Shakera Selman with 4-0-18-1.

T&T edge Windward Islands by 1 run

Britney Cooper led the Trinidad and Tobago batting with an unbeaten 47 off 41 balls which included five fours while Anisa Mohammed chipped in with 19 off 24 balls with three boundaries, but they could only muster 88-8 from their 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Qiana Joseph had the batters in a web as she spun her way to three wickets, finishing with figures of 4-1-10-3, while seamer Pearl Etienne was next best with 4-1-17-2.

But Trinidad & Tobago’s attack showed their might with some excellent bowling to eek out the narrow win. Skipper, Mohammed ended with 4-0-16-2, while Karishma Ramharack had 4-0-16-1. As Zaida James 28 not out (35 balls, 3x4) and Afy Fletcher 16 (19 balls, 2x4), showed some resistance for the Windwards who finished on 87-7 off their 20 overs.

Scorecard here

Guyana defeat Leewards by 75 runs

Shemaine Campbelle and Shabika Gajnabi posted a 55-run partnership as they helped home team Guyana post 122-4 from their 20 overs against. Campbelle topscored with 36, which came off 30 balls and included four elegant boundaries. Gajnabi complemented well with 32 not out from just 23 balls with three fours.

Scorecard here

The Leeward Islands never quite mounted a strong challenged and were kept in check by left-arm orthodox, Kaysia Schultz who had the game’s best figures of 3-14 from her 4 overs, while Ashmini Munisar wrapped up the innings in her first over, taking 2-2 off five balls, as Leewards ended 47 all out to give the home team a comfortable win.

Match Schedule Round 5 – Tuesday June 14

• Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago at 10am (9am Jamaica Time)
• Jamaica vs Leeward Islands at 2:30pm (1:30pm Jamaica Time)
• Windward Islands vs Guyana at 7pm (6pm Jamaica Time)

Points table after Round 4