'We all believed in ourselves'

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Stafanie Taylor, captain of Jamaica, said a high level of self-belief was one of the reasons why the team was able to come out on top in the just-concluded West Indies Cricket Board Women's League in Barbados.

Jamaica, led by player of the match Taylor, dethroned back-to-back champions Trinidad and Tobago by 30 runs in the final, which was played at Kensington Oval last Sunday.

"I would say self-belief was one of the main reasons why we came out on top," said the world-rated Taylor, who along with coach Cleon Smith and other members of the team returned to the country yesterday.

"As Jamaicans we believe in ourselves and our abilities and told ourselves that of all the teams we were the best. We then went out there did our best, and the hard work and effort paid off," she added.

Sent in to bat, Jamaica were bowled out for a modest 136 in 48.1 overs with the world-rated Taylor, batting in her familiar opening position, top scoring with 45.

Fellow opener Natasha McLean, and fellow West Indian representative Shanel Daley, with 34 and 28, respectively, were Jamaica's next best scorers against Anisa Mohammed, who took four for 20.

Trinidad, who in 2008 defeated then defending champions Jamaica for the title, in their reply were then restricted to 106 off 42.2 overs.

A top all-rounder

Taylor, who is rated as one of the top all-rounders in the world, then claimed two for 14 with her off-spin, and Daley, two for 23 with her left-arm seamers, to guide Jamaica home to their sensational win.

"It's a wonderful feeling to be crowned champions again, especially given the fact that our national senior team, the Under-19, and the Under-15 team, won their respective tournaments," Taylor said.

Jamaica, led by Tamar Lambert, won the regional four-day title for a record fourth season earlier this year, while the Under-19s, led by Donovan Nelson, and the Under-15s led by Ramaal Lewis, claimed their respective three-day tournaments.

Jamaica's visually impaired cricket team, led by Lo-Shane Myles, also won their tournament for a record sixth straight year earlier last month.