Limocol WCPL: Empress defeat Warriors in nail-bitting thriller

Chinelle Henry pulled off a stunning last-ball heist at Kensington Oval, powering Jamaica Empress to a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors in their Limacol WCPL debut.

Needing 17 runs from the final over with Henry well set and just three wickets in hand, the Empress found themselves staring down the barrel. With the match hanging in the balance, the drama intensified as two wickets fell via run-outs, with the Empress desperate to score off Warriors captain Chloe Tryon while keeping Henry on strike.

Eight runs were still required from the final two deliveries. Henry then produced the moment of magic, smashing back-to-back sixes to seal a remarkable victory and cap a contest that swung from one side to the other throughout the game.

Earlier, the Warriors were sent in and endured a subdued Power Play, losing two wickets while scoring just 19 runs.

Experienced campaigner Shemaine Campbelle and opener Realanna Grimmond then steadied the innings in emphatic fashion, combining for 97 runs from 63 balls for the third wicket. The pair appeared completely untroubled as they attacked the bowling, but their partnership was finally broken by a spectacular one-handed catch from Zaida James, who sent Grimmond back for 45 from 46 balls.

Campbelle continued to drive the innings forward, bringing up her second WCPL half-century. However, she was dismissed shortly afterwards for a team-high 56 from just 33 deliveries.

The two quick wickets triggered a collapse, with Empress captain Stafanie Taylor and left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba combining to claim two wickets apiece. The Warriors slipped from 104 for 2 to 114 for 5, losing three wickets for just 10 runs in eight deliveries.

New Warriors captain Tryon tried to restore some momentum alongside the lower order, finishing unbeaten on 21 from 16 balls. But the Warriors lost their final five wickets for just 22 runs, closing on 138 for 7 and giving the Empress the advantage at the interval.

Meg Lanning wasted little time putting the chase on track, racing to 31 from 21 balls with five boundaries. When she was dismissed at the end of the fifth over with the score on 48 for 1, the Empress appeared firmly in control.

But the Warriors refused to surrender. A brief rain delay reduced the game to a 19 over chase and either side of this the Warriors produced a stunning fightback in the middle overs, claiming five wickets for just 16 runs to turn the contest into a tense finish.

With the Empress wobbling, Henry took matters into her own hands. The powerful left-hander launched four sixes in a match-winning unbeaten 41 from just 21 balls, ultimately dragging Jamaica over the line in spectacular fashion.

Erin Burns and Shabnim Ismail were the Warriors’ leading wicket-takers, claiming two wickets apiece, but it was Henry who had the final say as the Empress snatched victory with the very last ball.