Trinidad & Tobago complete clean sweep

The first ICC Americas Women's Championship ended on a celebratory note with a match between a select Americas XI and the Trinidad & Tobago Under-17 team, as well as two 20/20 matches between mixed teams comprising players from Canada, Bermuda and Argentina who took part in the tournament.

In the show match of the day, T&T recorded a comfortable five-wicket win over the Americas XI, knocking off the required 186 in only 35.5 overs. The Americas XI had compiled a useful 185 for 7 in their 50 overs after being sent in, but this ultimately proved to be nowhere near enough to challenge their youthful opponents.

The Americas XI batting line-up performed solidly, but could never quite pick up the tempo and gain some momentum until late in the innings against the disciplined and tidy Trinidad & Tobago bowlers and fielders.

It was finally thanks to a great partnership between the two form players of the tournament, Terry-Lynn Paynter (Bermuda), who made an undefeated 55, with seven fours, and player of the tournament, Joanna White (Canada), who made 40. The pair added 86 for the sixth wicket after the Americas team had been reduced to 83 for 5.

Gaitri Seetahal shone with 3 for 26 in 10 overs, as did Whitney Cudjoe, who grabbed 1 for 15 in five.

In reply, an almost faultless opening stand of 103, between player of the match Cudjoe (62) and Rachael Marcano (30) virtually sealed the result. Although Americas used a variety of bowlers to try to reverse the T&T dominance, the opening pair stood firm in a fine century partnership.

Reuna Richardson, who finished with 2 for 15 off 4.5 overs, and Veronica Vasquez, 1 for 14, eventually made the breakthroughs, but Amanda Samaroo, (23*) and Gaitri Seetahal (26*) took them to a deserved victory.

There was a festival atmosphere on the adjacent ground as the remaining players involved in the tournament joined together to play two entertaining 20/20 matches, where fine displays from Dirce Yuli of Argentina, and Canadian Helene Gaffney, earned them respective player of the match awards.

So Canada claim the first ever ICC Americas Women's Championship title, and certainly there is huge optimism for the future of women's cricket in the region after an enormously successful tournament.

Individual award winners Player of the Tournament - Joanna White (Canada) Best Batter - Amanda Samaroo (T&T U17) Best Bowler - Terry-Lynn Paynter (Bermuda) Best Fielder - Melissa Sandy (T&T U17) Best Wicket-keeper - Jerveena Pollucksingh (T&T U17)

Ten players were selected to attend an ICC Americas Women's Academy for next year
ICC Americas Academy
Joanna White, Muneshri Persaud, Monali Patel and Meara Crawford - Canada; Stacey Babb, Reuna Richardson and Rickelle Smith - Bermuda; Veronica Vasquez, Cecilia Birnie and Delfina Canton - Argentina.