In an electrifying championship final of the WCPL 2025, Barbados Royals made it a thrilling three-peat as they edged Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) in a nail-biting, full-length thriller.
Outstanding individual performances, moments of drama, and last-minute heroics made for a short-thiller slug-fest between rivals the Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors, and ultimately, the Royals came out on top in a remarkable finish.
Ashmini Munisar’s Heroic Attempt Falls Short In BR vs GAW
Despite a heroic display by Ashmini Munisar of the GAW, who took 3 wickets for 21 runs, including an impressive maiden over, it was the Royals who at last took the win. Munisar’s spell saw the Warriors return to contention after they had initially struggled, but her team was unable to cope with the pressure of the chase.
The 21-year-old pacer, who was involved in four of the seven dismissals of the Royals, was one of the standout performers of the tournament. Her vital wickets in the middle overs gave the Amazon Warriors a glimmer of hope. However, despite her incredible individual performance, it was the unyielding resilience of the Royals’ batting that eventually sealed the deal.
The Crucial Turning Point: Alleyne and Patil’s Explosive Finish
At one stage, it appeared that the Barbados Royals were looking at defeat. With 27 runs needed off 16 balls and only three wickets in hand, the Royals were under massive pressure. That’s when Shreyanka Patil entered the crease.
Facing her first-ever WCPL 2025 final at-bat, Patil was up against a hat trick ball and worked through the pressure with composed focus. Her backward hitting on the first two balls relieved the ensuing pressure.
Aaliyah Alleyne too joined the party with a pivotal knock, hitting a four and a six in the following over, which cost 15 runs. The game was then as good as won for the Royals now, who chased down the game in style, securing a thrilling victory with only three wickets left. The win not just handed them the title but also assured them of their third successive WCPL title.
Munisar’s Magic Moment in the Middle Overs
While the ultimate outcome was agonizing for the Amazon Warriors, Munisar gave some magical moments which came close to turning the match in her team’s favor. The turning point came during the 14th over when Munisar removed Kycia Knight (31 off 37 balls), shattering Royals’ partnership and leaving them to score 56 runs from the remaining 36 balls.
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In her last over, Munisar removed two batsmen in rapid succession first dismissing Courtney Webb (31 from 27 balls), and second getting Afy Fletcher stumped from the very next ball. Through her performance, Munisar finished the tournament as one of the leading wicket-takers, taking 8 wickets a performance levelled at the highest in WCPL 2025.
Royals’ Imperfect Beginning, but Collapse in the Middle
Earlier in the match, Barbados Royals were off to a flying start with Chamari Athapaththu leading the charge. She hit a blistering start with two fours in the first over of the chase, indicating that what looked like an easy win at that point. Royals were steady as they went ahead with an excellent powerplay, scoring eight fours in the initial six overs, while it was Amazon Warriors who managed just four in the same duration.
The middle-order batting meltdown came close to derailing the Royals’ chase. At 130 for 5 and having lost five wickets for just 29 runs, the match looked set for a dramatic change, with Munisar looking to lead the Warriors to victory. In the end, however, the professionalism of Patil and Alleyne brought the Royals to another win in their third consecutive WCPL match.
Amazon Warriors’ Struggles in the Batting Department
Guyana Amazon Warriors never really broke free with the bat, even with a good effort by Laura Harris (18 runs off 8 balls) and a solid knock by Shemaine Campbelle (captain), who was unbeaten at 31 runs from 26 balls. Amy Hunter (4 runs off 13 balls) also struggled with difficult conditions, but a mix of aggressive Royals bowling and some key wickets left the Warriors’ score as low as 118/6 from their 20 overs.
Simultaneously, Barbados Royals were not hitting the wickets but were gripping tightly on the scoring rate, particularly with their bowlers executing plans well. Alleyne, Athapaththu, and the bowling group succeeded in getting Amazon Warriors’ attack under wraps.
WCPL 2025 Final: A Saga of Resilience and Determination
The Barbados Royals showed undeniable class as they proved worthy champions in a nervy contest, worth a record-breaking three-peat. The win not only reinforced the Royals dominance in WCPL 2025, but showed how the team could handle pressure and deliver when it truly mattered.
There were plenty of positives for Amazon Warriors, most especially a truly magnificent performance by Ashmini Munisar. Even in defeat in the final, they put in an impressive performance throughout the tournament, showing they are a team to keep an eye on in future seasons.
The Royals’ back-to-back title celebration was a celebration of teamwork, consistency and poise throughout their impressive WCPL 2025 journey, all of which was now rewarded with a third straight WCPL title.
Key Moments from the WCPL 2025 Final (GAW vs BR)
Ashmini Munisar’s Spell: 3/21, featuring a maiden over and key wickets.
Shreyanka Patil’s Composure: Reverse hitting the hat-trick ball and setting the tone for the win.
Aaliyah Alleyne’s Match Finishing: Game-winning boundary and six in the final overs.
Chamari Athapaththu’s Aggressive Start: She set the chase a-light with 14 runs in a hurry.
With this win, the Barbados Royals become the team to beat in the WCPL 2025 season, while the Amazon Warriors can hope to reconvene and come back stronger next season.
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