Bean Rosario & Leeward Islands Crowned T20 Blaze Champions
IslandStats.com
Leeward Islands 111/6 Barbados 79/5
Leeward Islands Women Win by 6 Runs (DLS Method)
The Leeward Islands Women have completed a historic, undefeated campaign to be crowned the 2026 West Indies Women’s T20 Blaze champions after a dramatic six-run victory over Barbados via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
Coming into the final with a perfect five-from-five record, the Leeward Islands won the toss at the Arnos Vale Playing Field and elected to bat first. Despite a disciplined bowling effort from the Barbadians, the Leewards posted a competitive 111 for 6 in their 20 overs. Shawnisha Hector was the mainstay of the innings, top-scoring with a vital 58 to anchor the middle order. Aaliyah Alleyne was the pick of the Barbados attack, returning figures of 2 for 14 from her four overs to keep the target within reach.
The Barbados pursuit of 112 began steadily but faced constant pressure from a clinical Leeward Islands bowling unit. At the end of the 16th over, Barbados sat at 79 for 5, requiring 33 runs from the final 24 balls. However, persistent rain intervened, and with no further play possible, the match was decided by the DLS method.
Eboni Brathwaite had kept Barbados in the hunt with a composed 26, but the Leewards' disciplined lines ensured they remained ahead of the par score. Rozel Liburd proved to be the match-winner with the ball, claiming 2 wickets for just 12 runs to stifle the chase and secure the title for her side.
Bermuda's Katherine Bean Rosario was named as a substitute for the final, having played a key role in the team's rotation throughout their unblemished preliminary run. For the Leeward Islands, the victory marks a maiden T20 Blaze title and a significant shift in the regional power balance.
Head coach Percy Daniel, who had previously described the team's run into the final as "uncharted waters," praised the squad's resilience under pressure. The Leewards now turn their attention to the upcoming Super50 Cup, where they will look to complete a historic regional double.
Leeward Islands Inning
..58 (44) Shawnisha Hector b Aaliyah Alleyne ..05 (12) Qiana Joseph b Shamilia Connell ..26 (32) Reniece Boyce c Asabi Callender b Theanny Herbert-Mayers ..01 (05) Amanda Edwards Run Out ..09 (15) Jahzara Claxton c Aaliyah Alleyne b Shamilia Connell ..05 (09) Davronique Maynard c Eboni Brathwaite b Aaliyah Alleyne ..04 (03) Tonya Martin Not Out ..03 Extras (1b-1lb-1w) 111 Total for 6 wickets after 20 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-22 (Joseph), 2-68 (Boyce), 3-77 (Edwards), 4-95 (Hector), 5-101 (Maynard), 6-111 (Claxton)
..06 (21) Trishan Holder c Jahzara Claxton b Qiana Joseph ..26 (22) Eboni Brathwaite c Amanda Edwards b Rozel Liburd ..01 (08) Naijanni Cumberbatch c Reniece Boyce b Rozel Liburd ..14 (25) Asabi Callender Run Out ..16 (16) Aaliyah Alleyne Not Out ..02 (04) Shakera Selman Run Out ..01 (01) Shamilia Connell Not Out ..13 Extras (6b-6w-1nb) ..79 Total for 5 after 16 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-31 (Holder), 2-33 (Cumberbatch), 3-43 (Brathwaite), 4-73 (Callender), 5-75 (Selman)
