Jamaica seek revenge as T&T chase hat-trick

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Two-time defending champions Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) will chase a memorable hat-trick of titles when they face Jamaica in the final of the WICB Women's Championship today.

Kensington Oval is expected to be full of fireworks as the region's top two teams face off from 10 a.m., featuring several West Indies players.

T&T, who won their first title in Guyana in 2009 and repeated the feat again last year in St Vincent, will start as favourites on virtue of their experience and current form, and captain Merissa Aguilleira said she was confident of topping the Jamaicans.

"The team is in very high spirits. We are confident going into the final and everyone expects a victory," said Aguilleira, also the West Indies skipper.

"Jamaica have a strong team, with (Stafanie) Taylor and (Shanel) Daley playing well, but we also have some very good players in our camp and we know we can get the better of them tomorrow."

Five-wicket win

T&T finished on top of Group A with three wins including one over the powerful Jamaicans.

In Friday's semi-finals, T&T disposed of St Lucia by five wickets to snatch their place in the final.

Jamaica, meanwhile, finished second behind T&T in Group A and clinched their final berth with an easy five-wicket win over hosts Barbados.

Jamaica captain and star batsman Stafanie Taylor said her side was out to make amends for their group stage loss to the Trinidadians.

"This is a big game for everyone in the team ... a big occasion for Jamaica cricket," Taylor said.

"We will adopt the same approach we had in the earlier matches. We will be patient and watchful and play to our strengths. We lost to T&T in the first round, so we will look to correct that this time around."

In addition to Taylor, Jamaica will look to all-rounders Shanel Daley and Chadean Nation while T&T will be bolstered by West Indies all-rounder Stacey-Ann King and off-spinner and West Indies vice-captain Anisa Mohammed.