Americas XI unable to match Caribbean youth team

Americas select team © ICC

The first ever ICC Americas Women's Championship ended on a celebratory note today with a match between a select Americas XI and the Trinidad & Tobago U17 team, as well as two 20/20 matches between mixed teams made up of players from the three regional member countries - Canada, Bermuda and Argentina - who took part in the tournament.

In the show match of the day, the young Trinidad & Tobago team scored a comfortable 5 wicket win over the Americas XI, knocking off the required 186 runs for victory for the loss of 5 wickets in only 35.5 overs. Earlier, after being put in to bat, the Americas XI had compiled a useful 185 for 7 in their 50 overs, but this ultimately proved to be nowhere near enough to challenge their youthful opponents.

Mighty Mouse Amanada Samaroo 16 year old T&T player most runs in the tournament © ICC

The Americas XI batting line-up performed solidly, but could never quite pick up the tempo and gain some momentum until late in the innings against the disciplined and tidy Trinidad & Tobago bowlers and fielders. It was finally thanks to a great partnership between the two form players of the tournament, Terry-Lynn Paynter (Bermuda), who made an undefeated 55 in 67 balls, with 7 fours, and player of the tournament, Joanna White (Canada), who made 40 in 59 balls, including 3 fours. The pair added 86 for the 6th wicket after the Americas team had been reduced to 83 for 5.

Main wicket-taker was Gaitri Seetahal, who took 3 for 26 in 10 overs, 5 of which were maidens. The other bowler to shine was Whitney Cudjoe with 1 for 15 in 5 overs.

In reply, an almost faultless opening stand of 103, between player of the match Whitney Cudjoe, who made 62 off 83 balls with 6 fours, and Rachael Marcano, 30 in 56 balls, 4 fours, virtually sealed the result from the outset. Although the Americas team used a variety of bowlers in order to try and reverse the Trinidad & Tobago dominance, the opening pair stood firm in a fine century partnership.

Reuna Richardson, who finished with 2 for 15 off 4.5 overs, and Veronica Vasquez, 1 for 14, eventually made the breakthroughs, but Amanda Samaroo, 23 off 37 balls with 2 fours, andGaitri Seetahal, 26 not out off 24 balls with 5 fours, took the youth combination to a deserved victory.

Joanna White "Player of the tournament" © ICC

There was a festival atmosphere on the adjacent ground as the remaining players involved in the tournament joined together to play two entertaining 20/20 matches, where fine displays from Dirce Yuli of Argentina, and Canadian Helene Gaffney, earned them respective player of the match awards.

So Canada claim the first ever ICC Americas Women's Championship title, and certainly there is huge optimism for the future of women's cricket in the region after an enormously successful tournament.

Individual Award Winners:
Player of the Tournament - Joanna White (Canada)
Best Batter - Amanda Samaroo (T&T U17)
Best Bowler - Terry-Lynn Paynter (Bermuda)
Best Fielder - Melissa Sandy (T&T U17)
Best Wicket-keeper - Jerveena Pollucksingh (T&T U17)

2007 ICC Americas Women's Championship - Final Placings:
1. Canada
2. Bermuda
3. Argentina

Players selected to attend an academy © ICC

Americas XI, from:
Ave Mogan (capt), Joanna White, Kim Coulter, Meara Crawford and Maree Wilson - Canada ; Chevonne Furbert (v-capt), Reuna Richardson, Terry-Lynn Paynter and Wendy Woodley - Bermuda ; Veronica Vasquez and Cecilia Birnie - Argentina ; Mawhish Khan - ICC Americas.

Ten players were selected to attend an ICC Americas Women's Academy, to be held at a later date probably early next year.

ICC Americas Academy Group:
Joanna White, Muneshri Persaud, Monali Patel and Meara Crawford - Canada ; Stacey Babb, Reuna Richardson and Rickelle Smith - Bermuda ; Veronica Vasquez, Cecilia Birnie and Delfina Canton - Argentina.