Bean-Rasario & Leeward Islands Stun Jamaica in T20 Opener
IslandStats.com
Leeward Islands 108/5 Jamaica 99/8
Bermudian all-rounder Katherine Bean-Rosario and her Leeward Islands teammates enjoyed a dream start to their Cricket West Indies (CWI) T20 Blaze campaign, securing a gritty nine-run victory over a formidable Jamaica side at the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent.
Jamaica won the toss and elected to field, a decision that bore immediate fruit as the Leeward Islands lost a wicket to the very first ball of the match. However, the Leewards showed immense resilience to recover, posting a competitive 108-5 from their allotted 20 overs.
The backbone of the innings was a brilliant half-century from Shawnisha Hector, who struck 55 off 55 balls to anchor the side. Bean-Rosario, though part of the playing XI, was not required to bat as the top order held firm. Jamaica’s Chedean Nation was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 2-15 from her four overs.
In response, Jamaica’s chase was largely a solo effort from Nation, who followed up her bowling performance with a defiant unbeaten 48 off 50 balls.
The game hung in the balance during a crucial third-wicket partnership of 48 between Nation and the legendary former West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor. However, once that stand was broken, the Leeward Islands' bowlers tightened their grip. Hector capped off a superb individual day by taking 2-15 to mirror Nation's bowling figures and restrict Jamaica to 99-8.
The victory provides the Leeward Islands with vital momentum in what is a landmark year for the women's game in the West Indies, with the T20 Blaze serving as a key selection platform ahead of this summer’s international schedule.
Leeward Islands Innings
..00 (01) Qiana Joseph c & b Neisha-Ann Waisome ..56 (55) Shawnisha Hector c Rashada Williams b Chedean Nation ..09 (19) Jahzara Claxton c Kate Wilmott b Celina Whyte ..05 (14) Reniece Boyce LBW Stafanie Taylor ..20 (22) Amanda Edwards c Jaunel Deers b Chedean Nation ..05 (04) Kimberly Anthony Not Out ..03 (05) Kayzg Boyles Not Out ..10 Extras (9w-1lb) 108 Total for 6 wickets after 20 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Joseph), 2-35 (Claxton), 3-52 (Boyce), 4-100 (Hector), 5-101 (Edwards)
Jamaica Bowlers
3.0-0-21-1 Neisha-Ann Waisome 4.0-0-14-0 Vanessa Watts 3.0-0-22-0 Kate Wilmott 2.0-0-11-1 Celina Whyte 4.0-0-24-1 Stafanie Taylor 4.0-0-15-2 Chedean Nation
Jamaica Inning
..04 (05) Rashada Williams c Aaliyah Weekes b Jahzara Claxton ..48 (50) Chedean Nation Not Out ..00 (04) Chrishana McKenzie c & b Jahzara Claxton ..25 (33) Stafanie Taylor c Reniece Boyce b Davronique Maynard ..00 (03) Lena Scott c Rozel Liburd b Davronique Maynard ..07 (09) Kate Wilmott c Shawnisha Hector b Amanda Edwards ..01 (02) Neisha-Ann Waisome LBW Qiana Joseph ..02 (06) Sherene Burnett b Shawnisha Hector ..00 (03) Vanessa Watts c Qiana Joseph b Shawnisha Hector ..01 (04) Jaunel Deers Not Out ..11 Extras (1b-10w) ..99 Total for 8 wickets after 20 overs
Fall of Wickets: 1-5 (Williams), 2-12 (McKenzie), 3-60 (Taylor), 4-60 (Scott), 5-79 (Wilmott), 6-80 (Waisome), 7-83 (Burnett), 8-83 (Watts)
Bean-Rosario Set for Regional Stint with Leeward Islands
IslandStats.com
Bermudian all-rounder Katherine Bean-Rosario will once again pull on the Leeward Islands colors as she prepares to compete in a pivotal double-header of regional women’s cricket.
The wicketkeeper-batter has been named in the squad for both the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup and the Cricket West Indies (CWI) T20 Blaze, with the 2026 editions set to be hosted in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The limited-overs tournaments mark the beginning of a landmark year for the women’s game in the West Indies, providing a critical competitive platform ahead of this summer’s tri-nation series and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The T20 Blaze officially bowls off this week, featuring six territories: Barbados, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, host nation the Windward Islands, and defending champions Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. In a return to the successful format of previous years, all T20 matches will be staged at the Arnos Vale Ground.
Fans are set for a feast of action with daily triple-headers starting at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., while the marquee 7:00 p.m. slot will see matches played under lights. The competition follows a round-robin format, culminating in a high-stakes finals day on Friday, January 23.
Immediately following the T20 final, the focus shifts to the longer format as the Super50 tournament commences on January 27. Matches will be distributed across three venues—Sion Hill, Park Hill, and Cumberland—with all games scheduled for 9:30 a.m. starts.
Each team will play three matches in a condensed format where every delivery counts. The side sitting at the top of the table after the final round of matches on January 31 will be declared champions, succeeding reigning 50-over title holders Trinidad & Tobago.
For Bean-Rosario, the tournament represents another opportunity to build on her growing reputation in the Caribbean after making her debut for the Leeward Islands Under-19 side in 2024. Her presence in the senior squad underscores the deepening talent pool in Bermudian women's cricket as players continue to find pathways into elite regional competition.
T20 Blaze Match Leeward Islands Schedule (All Games to be played at Arnos Vale)
Tuesday, January 13th
Jamaica vs Leeward Islands @ 2:30pm
Thursday, January 15th
Guyana vs Leeward Islands @ 7:00pm
Saturday, January 17th
Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago @ 9:30am
Monday, January 19th
Leeward Islands vs Barbados @ 9:30am
Wednesday, January 21st
Leeward Islands vs Windward Islands @ 7:00pm
CG United Women’s Super 50 Cup Match Leeward Islands Schedule (All matches start @ 9:30 am)
Tuesday, January 27th
Barbados vs Leeward Islands — Park Hill
Thursday, January 29th
Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands — Cumberland
Saturday, January 31st
Leeward Islands vs Jamaica — Sion Hill
Friday, January 09, 2026
BCB Announces Senior National Men’s Team Training Squad
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) has signaled a new era for the national game, naming a 25-man senior training squad to spearhead the island's international ambitions for 2026.
With Bermuda set to host to travel to Cayman Islands for the 2026 North American Cricket Cup, between March 27th and April 5th, and the the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028 regional qualifiers this June, the BCB High-Performance Committee is wasting no time. The selected squad has been invited to a critical briefing on January 15th to outline a strategic roadmap designed to elevate the island’s standing on the global stage.
The squad is a potent blend of battle-hardened veterans and emerging talent. Headlining the group are players who have carried the weight of the island’s expectations in the Cup Match Classic and on the senior international stage.
Terryn Fray and Delray Rawlins remain the linchpins of the setup. Rawlins, the former Sussex professional, and Fray, a seasoned national captain, bring a combined wealth of international experience. They are joined by a core of players who were instrumental in Bermuda’s recent T20 World Cup qualifying cycles, including the explosive Tre Manders, reliable wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith, and the pace-bowling threat of Zeko Burgess.
The squad also leans heavily on the experience of Derrick Brangman, Onias Bascome, and Dominic Sabir—all of whom have tasted the unique pressure of both the Annual Cup Match Classic and ICC regional finals.
The 2026 framework places a significant emphasis on the transition of youth talent. Several standout performers from the Under-19 ranks have been rewarded with senior call-ups, including:
Zeri Tomlinson: The young wicketkeeper-batsman who made waves as a Somerset colt in the 2025 Cup Match.
Luke Horan & Luke Fulton: Both players have benefitted from international exposure at the U19 level and are viewed as future staples of the senior bowling attack.
Jermal Proctor & Marcus Scotland: Two players who have already begun to establish themselves in the senior international fold during recent tours to Canada and Argentina.
BCB President Lloyd Smith emphasized that this is not just a squad selection, but a commitment to a new high-performance standard. "This marks an exciting chapter," Smith stated. "The High-Performance Committee has developed a clear pathway designed to elevate our standards and ensure our national team is fully prepared for the challenges ahead."
The January 15th session will detail the rigorous training expectations and "strategic direction" for a year that features a heavy international calendar, including the highly anticipated home qualifiers in June.
Bermuda 2026 Training Squad
Terryn Fray, Delray Rawlins, Derrick Brangman, Tre Manders, Dominic Sabir, Zeri Tomlinson, Onias Bascome, Sinclair Smith, Marcus Scotland, Zeko Burgess, Luke Fulton, Luke Horan, Kevon Fubler, Dalin Richardson, Jonte Smith, Jermal Proctor, Alex Dore, MacQuille Walker, Charles Trott, Seth Campbell, Amari Ebbin, Nacori Smith, Chare Smith, Sharye Tavares, Nzari Paynter.
Tuesday, January 06, 2026
Leverock Drafted to Pollard’s Panthers for LLC Season
IslandStats.com
Kamau Leverock is set to rub shoulders with some of cricket’s greatest icons once again after being drafted for the upcoming season of Legends League Cricket (LLC), scheduled to run from January 11th to February 5th, 2026.
The versatile all-rounder has been selected for the Pune Panthers, where he will join a star-studded roster led by West Indian powerhouse Kieron Pollard. The Panthers’ lineup boasts a formidable "Calypso" core, with the inclusion of legendary all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, alongside the elegant Sri Lankan top-order batsman Upul Tharanga.
This season marks the LLC’s most ambitious expansion to date, featuring a seven-city tour across India designed to bring world-class cricket to regions with deep-rooted passion but fewer opportunities to host major international events.
The 2026 circuit will travel through a diverse range of cricketing hubs, including: Gwalior Udaipur Patna Coimbatore Amritsar–Jalandhar * Kochi
The league will also include a high-profile international leg in Sharjah and Doha, aimed at connecting with the vast South Asian diaspora and global cricket communities in the Middle East.
For Leverock, the move to the Panthers follows a successful debut in the league last season with the Gujarat Greats. His ability to provide explosive power at the top of the order and valuable medium-fast overs has made him a sought-after asset in the "legends" circuit, despite being significantly younger than many of his peers.
Speaking on the draft, Panthers captain Kieron Pollard noted the importance of balance in the squad. "We have the experience of guys who have won World Cups, but you need that youthful energy and versatility that someone like Kamau brings. He proved last year he can compete at this level, and we're excited to have him in Pune colours."
Leverock’s inclusion is another boost for Bermudian cricket, coming just as he recently announced his return to the national team setup for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle. The experience of competing alongside the likes of Pollard and Bravo in front of massive Indian crowds is expected to be vital as he prepares for international duty later this spring.
Monday, December 22, 2025
ICC Bailing Out Suspended USA
IslandStats.com
The International Cricket Council (ICC), in a press release on Monday, said it is committed to safeguarding the interests of the USA cricket team’s players despite the ongoing governance and financial crisis within USA Cricket (USAC).
The ICC Board had suspended USAC on September 23, “for serious breaches of the ICC Membership Criteria”, but maintained that the decision must not adversely impact the players and their preparations for the upcoming events, such as the ICC Men’s Under 19 World Cup 2026, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
In the release, the ICC also said it was ready to fund all the aspects of the USA High Performance Programme and pay the players contracted with the USAC during the Board’s suspension.
“The ICC offered to provide funding to USA Cricket by way of a loan in accordance with the Chapter 11 legal process that included, amongst other things, the payment of all player and High-Performance staff salaries. Unfortunately, that offer was not accepted by USA Cricket. The ICC is now, therefore, looking to see if it can make those payments directly, where appropriate, on behalf of USA Cricket,” the ICC added.
An ICC spokesperson said: “Our foremost responsibility is to the players who represent the United States on the world stage. The bankruptcy proceedings initiated by USA Cricket should not, and will not, derail their preparation for ICC events or the LA28 Olympic Games. The ICC stands ready to manage and fund the High-Performance Programme, and ensure all National team players continue to receive the support they deserve. We continue to work closely with the USOPC to build a robust and stable high-performance pathway for LA28. The future of the USA’s players, and the sport’s growth in a key market, remains a major priority for the ICC.”
The USA is set to participate in next year’s T20 World Cup after it secured direct qualification for the global showpiece owing to its impressive run in the 2024 edition, where it stunned Pakistan to reach the Super Eight stage.
