The reigning champion Barbados Royals and the Trinbago Knight Riders engaged in a thrilling match in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL 2024) final at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. The Royals won the match by a decisive four wickets, effectively defending their crown.
The 12th over of the Knight Riders’ innings marked a turning moment in the game. The standout bowler for the Royals, Aaliyah Alleyne, hit Jannillea Glasgow with a fuller-length ball outside off-stump. When Glasgow tried to go through the opening behind mid-off, she mishit the shot, giving Amanda-Jade Wellington a clean catch.
Alleyne celebrated this discovery in a different way. The bowler, 29, leaped to her feet in excitement and ran towards her teammates.
The moment was appropriately characterised by the CPL’s official social media: “What a TOPCO Celebration from the @BarbadosRoyals in the Massy WCPL Final at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.”
Check out the viral wicket celebration moment here:
What a TOPCO Celebration from the @BarbadosRoyals in the Massy WCPL Final at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.#TopcoCelebration #WCPL #WCPL24 #BRvTKR #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/EoM1soMU1d
— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 29, 2024
Alleyne’s performance was vital, as evidenced by her remarkable 4/21 final score. The Knight Riders were limited to just 93/8 in their 20 overs by her spell and the two wickets taken by captain Hayley Matthews. Shikha Pandey (28 runs) and Kycia Knight (17 not out) gave it their best shot, but the score was not enough.
Also Read: WCPL2024: After defeating Trinbago Knight Riders in a summit match, Barbados Royals win back-to-back championships
Chamari Athapaththu, in reply, spearheaded the Royals’ pursuit with an undefeated 39 off 47 balls. She hit seven boundaries during her innings, which helped the team win with five overs remaining. The Royals’ impressive performance was further enhanced by the contributions of Matthews, Qiana Joseph, and Laura Harris.