by Spectator Sports Watch

January 24, 2027 – The Leeward Islands Stormers were crowned champions of the CWI T20 Blaze for the first time in history after defeating Barbados Pride in the final on Friday, 23 January. The match was interrupted by rain, and at the stoppage, Barbados were six runs behind the required DLS target, handing the Stormers a historic victory.

The Leeward Islands won the toss and elected to bat, getting off to an aggressive start from the first ball. Opener Shawnisha Hector set the tone with a magnificent pull shot for four. The opening over proved eventful, as Hector was given a chance when she was dropped after popping the ball back to bowler Naijanni Cumberbatch, who reacted too late to hold on to the chance.

Hector went on to play a commanding innings, scoring a tournament-high 58 off 43 deliveries, surpassing her previous best of 56 against Jamaica. She received solid support from Reniece Boyce, who contributed 26 off 32 balls. The Leeward Islands closed their innings at 111 for 6 off 20 overs. For Barbados, captain Aaliyah Alleyne was the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for just 14 runs.

In reply, Barbados Pride made a steady start, reaching 30 without loss after five overs. However, regular wickets by the Stormers slowed their momentum. Rain brought play to a halt after 16 overs, with Barbados on 79 for 5. The match did not resume. Eboni Brathwaite top-scored for Barbados with 26 runs off 22 deliveries.

Hector’s match-winning knock earned her the Player of the Match award. She was also named Best Batter of the tournament after scoring a competition-high 136 runs and was further honoured as Best All-Rounder, having taken nine wickets across the tournament. 

Guyana’s Ashmini Munisar received the Best Bowler award with 13 wickets, while the Best Wicketkeeper award was shared between Jamaica’s Rashada Williams and Guyana’s Mandy Mangru with 7 dismissals each.

Spectator Review

This victory marks a historic achievement for Leeward Islands cricket. On opening day, the team’s manager stated that the Stormers were determined to win the entire competition, stressing that they were no pushovers and should never be taken lightly.

The triumph was made even more special by the team’s dominance, which demonstrated strong camaraderie throughout the tournament. On the field, players consistently supported one another, even when mistakes were made. Hector’s outstanding performances throughout the competition could be a significant step toward her becoming a regular member of the West Indies team.

The Stormers will now turn their attention to the Super 50 tournament, which begins on Tuesday, 27 January, where they are set to face Barbados once again.