 Bermuda's Katherine Bean-Rosario has described her historic role in the Leeward Islands' first-ever Cricket West Indies (CWI) T20 Blaze title as an "unforgettable experience," as the side defied the odds to secure regional glory.
The 19-year-old all-rounder, who recently made the leap from the Under-19 ranks to the senior setup, was part of a squad that completed an undefeated campaign to lift the trophy at Arnos Vale. For the Leeward Islands, a team that had never previously reached such heights in the competition, the victory marked a tectonic shift in the Caribbean cricketing landscape.
Despite having only a week to prepare as a collective, Bean-Rosario noted that the squad utilized every second to build a championship-winning environment.
Speaking exclusively to www.islandstats.com, "Upon my arrival, I instantly felt a connection with the women as they quickly took me under their wing," Bean-Rosario reflected. "We all trained very hard from morning to evening, working on what we needed to get better at as a team and as individuals. This time was different. We all went into the T20 with confidence and high hopes".
That confidence was tested throughout the tournament. In a format where momentum can shift in a single over, the Leewards found themselves under pressure on multiple occasions—most notably in their opening win against Jamaica and the rain-affected finale against Barbados.
"A lot of the time, we would start to doubt and think that the game wasn’t going our way," she admitted. "But we continued to keep our heads up, and each game we would take the win home".
For Bean-Rosario, the victory carried personal weight. After suffering the heartbreak of losing back-to-back finals with the Leeward Islands Under 19’s in 2024 and 2025, reaching the pinnacle at the senior level felt like a just reward.
"I guess what they say is true—third time’s the charm, and it feels great," she remarked, highlighting the contrast between her previous near-misses and this year's historic breakthrough.
While her impact on the pitch was significant, the Bermudian prospect emphasized that her "leveling up" was as much about education as it was about performance. Whether in the starting XI or supporting from the sidelines, Bean-Rosario treated every moment in the senior camp as a developmental milestone.
Observation: Attended every match with the intent to "watch, listen, and learn".
Resilience: Even when dealing with a slight injury, she focused on developing existing skills and supporting the team.
Gratitude: Credited the Bermuda Cricket Board, including Calvin Blankendal and Lloyd Smith, for facilitating the opportunity.
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