ICC Americas Women’s Div. 1 Championship
By Orville Hall
Wicketkeeper Melissa Sandy and skipper Candacy Atkins came together in a 103 run third-wicket partnership as the USA defeated Brazil by 88 runs in the ICC Americas T20 match at the Jimmy Powell Oval in the Cayman Islands today.
Melissa Sandy half century earned her the Player of the Match award. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
The USA opening pair of Nadia Grundy and Karen Bayles added only 5 runs before Bayles was run out for 2. Nadia Gruny contributed 11 before she was caught and bowled by Karina Lagoa. Sandy and Atkins then came together and took the Brazil bowling to task, as the pair put the USA in the driver’s seat to finish on 142 for 5. Sandy topscored with 51, and Atkins got 35. Lagoa was Brazil’s most successful bowler, picking up 2 wickets for 26 runs.
When Brazil batted, they found the going tough, as the USA bowlers kept up the pressure with the first three wickets going down for a mere 5 runs. Lagoa and Ana Vicentin combined to add 29 runs for the fourth wicket, but once the partnership was broken, the remaining batters could only muster an additional 20 runs.
Bowling for the USA, Opening bowler Triholder Marshall picked up 2 wickets for 2 runs, Claudine Beckford took 2 wickets for 8 runs, and Samantha Ramautar collected 1 wicket for 3 runs from 4 overs. The USA takes on Argentina tomorrow.
Thursday is a rest day, but the action resumes on Friday when the USA plays Bermuda, and they wrap up the tournament on Saturday in a match against Canada.