The 2018/2019 cricket season was a watershed period in the history of The UWI Women’s Cricket Club (UWI WCC). After undergoing a restructuring, the team’s runner’s up position in the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s Cricket Association [TTWCA] Championship Division earned them promotion to the Premiership Division.
Then came the pandemic.
This year, the UWI cricketers finally made their debut in the TTWCA Premiership Division. The team performed above expectations by placing 3rd in the 50-Over league and 4th in the T20 league. Their supporters were treated with outstanding individual and team performances.
The team’s 4th Awards Function and Inaugural Fun Day celebrating its 2023 achievements was held on June 10 at The UWI Academy of Sport. Sandamali Dolawatta, led the list of top performers scoring the most runs in the T20 league as well as capturing the most wickets.
Other outstanding performances were given by Nadra Dwarika-Baptiste and Rachael-Ann Dookhoo who tied for most wickets in the 50-Over competition, and Victoria Madoo, a national athlete, who scored most runs in the 50-Over competition.
The players attributed the team’s success to several factors: hard work, commitment, strong camaraderie through a collective club spirit, an experienced coach in former West Indies Test and ODI captain – wicketkeeper Stephanie Judith Power, and a motivating fan base.
“She was our first [female] coach, and to achieve what she laid out for us was really something else,” said team member and manager of UWI WCC Nadra Dwarika-Baptiste.
Joining the team in 2018, Power predicted they would make it to the premiership in two years. The team was promoted in 2020.
“She said that, next year, we will finish in the top two, and I am hopeful,” said Dwarika-Baptiste, who is also an administrative assistant for Facilities and Events at the St Augustine Academy of Sport.
Impressive performances against long standing arch rivals Achievers Women Cricket Club, and powerhouse Hibiscus Cricket Club demonstrated the strengths of the UWI WCC. The team avenged its T20 lost to Achievers Women Cricket Club with a thrilling victory in the 50 overs league. A stunning diving effort by wicket keeper and 50 overs captain Tammika Nanan-Ramsumair, to dismiss Anjali Goordeen and two wickets in two balls from Vincentian Alison Antoine were straws that broke the back of the Achievers Women’s batting that
Performances like those against long standing arch rival Achievers Cricket Club and powerhouse Hibiscus Cricket Club demonstrated the strengths of the UWI WCC. The team avenged its T20 lost to Achievers Women Cricket Club with a thrilling victory in the 50 overs league. A stunning dive from wicket keeper and 50-overs captain Tammika Nanan-Ramsumair, led UWI to their first 50 overs win in their first attempt in the Premiership. Nanan’s catch earned her the “Catch of the Season” at the club’s awards function.
Despite losing to seasoned campaigners Hibiscus Cricket Club, the UWI WCC were very competitive. The UWI team posted 209 runs all out for 43.2 overs, to which Hibiscus WCC responded with 212 for 5 wickets, winning by 5 wickets.
The 2024 season will see the return of former national Under-19 captain and West Indies World Cup player Shalini Samaroo. The team will be looking forward to drawing from Samaroo’s experience, especially after debuting for the national senior women team in the 2023 CG United Women’s Super50 and Twenty20 Blaze tournaments that were held in St Kitts and Nevis.
Ameila Khan, a bowling all-rounder with potential to stand alongside greats like Ellyse Perry and Marizanne Kapp, will also return. She won the Best Fielder award in the 50-Over competition. Alison Matthews was awarded for most boundaries across both versions of the game.
The excitement in and around women’s cricket continues to grow. The team triumphed over Players Sports Club in their first exhibition game as part of the Point Fortin Borough Celebrations’ Week of Sport 2023 in May. It was the first time that two women’s team featured in the event.
Internationally, viewership is at an all-time high, and regionally, competitions like the Women’s CPL are expanding to provide more career opportunities for athletes. Now the gap must be filled locally, and according to Dwarika-Baptiste, “support starts at home”.
