WCPL 2025 Match 3 Review: Athapaththu takes four as Royals win again

The third game of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) saw Barbados Royals cement their position at the top of the table with a commanding 59-run win over Trinbago Knight Riders.

Chinelle Henry won the toss and elected to bat first at the Providence Stadium, her side eventually reaching 137/6 on a fresh track. Lefthanded power hitter, Qiana Joseph impressed and top scored for the Royals with an anchoring innings of 63 off 52 balls at the top of the order.

Her opening partner Chamari Athapaththu made 14 off 12 balls but would play a decisive hand with the ball later in the match. Joseph and Athapaththu put on 59 for the first wicket in seven overs that laid a foundation for the defending champions.

Deandra Dottin curtailed the Royals from posting a bigger total by clean bowling Courtney Webb and Captain Henry whilst also running out Georgia Redmayne cheaply. Kycia Knight then struck four boundaries to give the Royals’ innings some impetus from the lower-middle order.

Set a target of 138, the Knight Riders imploded with the bat. Bowled out for 78 in little more than 15 overs with only Lizelle Lee playing an innings of note with 39 off 44 balls. It was a procession of wickets for the Royals, with Athapaththu picking up a remarkable four wickets for just seven runs off three overs to claim the Player of the Match gong.

Her right arm off-spin was well supported by that of Sheneta Grimmond who picked up Shawnisha Hector and Jahzara Claxton with consecutive balls in the second over. The Knight Riders never recovered, the heavy loss seeing them rooted to the bottom of the CPL table with two defeats in two.