The Barbados Royals etched their name and scripted history, pulling off a stunning three-wicket victory against the Guyana Amazon Warriors to seal their three-peat in Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
Barbados Royals chased 137 in the second innings with three wickets remaining. During the chase, the Royals felt real pressure when 27 runs were required off the last 16 balls and three wickets in hand. During this moment, Shreyanka Patil and Aaliyah Alleyne stepped up. They entertained the viewers with crucial cameos that turned the tide and sealed a famous victory.
Under immense pressure, Shreyanka Patil showcased her fearless intent. She faced the hat-trick delivery from Munisar as her first ball and stunned the crowd by smashing reverse shots- a scoop and a sweep and picked up back-to-back boundaries. Patil finished with a crucial 10 runs off six balls.
Aaliyah Alleyne also performed well as a finisher. She smashed a six and a four to Molly Penfold and shifted the momentum. Alleyne kept her composure and won the match with a boundary off Laura Harris’s fourth delivery of the last over. She finished with 17* off 9 balls and carried the Royals to glory.
With this victory, Barbados Royals secured their third straight WCPL title (2023, 2024, 2025). The Royals’ season begins with a setback as captain Hayley Matthews was ruled out of the tournament due to a Shoulder injury and Chinelle Henry was named Captain.
The Royals started their WCPL 2025 campaign against the Guyana Amazon Warriors and immediately set the tone. Barbados Royals chased a DLS-adjusted target, and Chamari Athapaththu and Georgia Redmayne provided steady platforms before Henry exploded with a 19-ball 37* to seal victory. It was a clear message that the Royals had the batting firepower to dominate even when Hayley Matthews was not present.
The next game was against the Trinbago Knight Riders, where the Royals displayed their dominance. Qiana Joseph’s sparkling 63 headlined the batting effort, but it was Athapaththu’s all-round show that stole the spotlight. Her off-spin dismantled the Knight Riders with figures of (4/7) in just three overs, handing the Royals a massive 59-run win. Athapaththu’s ability to contribute in both departments made her the heartbeat of the team in no time.
In the third match, the Royals once again faced the Amazon Warriors in what was to become the most nerve-shredding game of the group stage. Defending a modest total, the Royals relied on Henry’s composure with the bat and the late-innings poise of Aaliyah Alleyne. The match ended with the last ball, but the Royals managed to slip through and grab a place in the final along with the victory. This success was a reflection of the team’s adaptability: they could blast opponents away on some days and grind out results on others.
Chamari Athapaththu was one constant for the Royals’ unbeaten run, with 194 runs and 7 wickets, from 5 outings. The Sri Lankan legend dominated with bat and ball, finishing as the leading run-scorer and among the top wicket-takers. Her contributions in the powerplay with the bat and her ability to strike in the middle overs with the ball gave the Royals balance and flexibility. Unsurprisingly, she was named Player of the Tournament.
The unbeaten campaign and three consecutive titles with rising stars stepping up alongside match-winners made their 2025 campaign truly successful. The Royals stand tall as the undisputed force of WCPL.
