ATHAPATHTHU AND WEBB KEEP ROYALS UNBEATEN
The final group game of the 2025 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) saw the Trinbago Knight Riders put up their highest total of the tournament so far, but it wasn’t enough for them to claim victory against the Barbados Royals who go into Wednesday’s final undefeated.
The Knight Riders on the other hand finished their 2025 season without a win with Jess Jonasson’s brilliant 71 not enough to see her side home as Chamari Athapaththu and Courtney Webb brushed aside the 149-run target the Royals were set. Yet again for the two-time defending champions, it was Athapaththu with a blistering knock of 89 from 71 that set up the big win.
The innings of the Knight Riders started poorly as they lost two early wickets before a stand of 44 from Jonasson and Zaida James set a solid foundation for the batters to come. Shikha Pandey and Jahzara Claxton scored some quick-fire runs at the end as the Knight Riders posted what looked to be a very competitive total.
Having just bowled two overs in the tournament leading into this game, it was Royals’ captain Chinelle Henry who finished with the best figures for the Barbados team, claiming 3/25 from her four overs.
The Knight Riders backed up their batting with an excellent start with the ball as Pandey claimed two wickets in two balls to leave the Royals 3/2 at the at the end of the first over. From there, it became all about Athapaththu as her and Courtney Webb on the highest stand of the 2025 WCPL so far. Their partnership of 145 meant that this became another thumping win from the Royals in 2025. The only minor disappointment was that Athapaththu was not there at the end, with Jonassen bowling her with two runs needed to win.
At the end of the Knight Riders innings Jonasson had the highest individual score of the tournament, but that record did not last long as Athapaththu breezed past that in an innings that featured 10 fours and three sixes.
At the other end Webb made her biggest contribution for the Royals so far. Having struggled with the bat leading into this game, having made three single figure scores, she played the supporting role brilliantly to finish with 50 not out from 42 balls.
The Royals will be buoyed with this win and will take an unbeaten record into Wednesday’s final against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Royals have never lost to the Warriors and will be looking to make it three WCPL titles on the bounce. The Warriors will be hoping home ground support will help them claim the WCPL trophy for the first time.
MATCH PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE HERE AND CAN BE USED FOR EDITORIAL PURPOSES. (CREDIT: CPL VIA GETTY IMAGES)
POST MATCH INTERVIEWS FROM THIS GAME CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE. (CREDIT CPLT20)
