Yastika Bhatia impresses on CPL women’s debut, Shikha Pandey destroys Barbados Tridents

ByTech Word News

Yastika Bhatia started her Caribbean Women’s Premier League career with confidence while Shikha Pandey produced a match-winning performance as Trinbago Knight Riders defeated defending champions Barbados Tridents by 21 runs in the tournament opener at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown on Saturday.

Asked to bat first, Knight Riders posted 155 for 10 in 20 overs after a strong opening partnership between Yastika and Laura Harris. The Indian batsman looked comfortable on her WCPL debut, scoring 35 off 28 balls, including six fours. She added 67 with Harris providing the aggression by smashing 38 off 19 balls, with four fours and three sixes.

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Mandy Mangru stopped Yastik at the start of the 11th through Qian Joseph, sparking a mini-collapse as Trinbago slumped from 93 for two to 133 for six. However, Madeline Penn’s 27 off 21 balls helped the Knight Riders post a competitive total.

SHIKHA PANDEY TURNS THE GAME ON IT’S HEAD

The Tridents seemed to be in competition for much of their pursuit. Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph put on 40 for the opening wicket, while Kiran Navgire’s 28 off 21 balls and Maddy Green’s 24 off 16 kept Barbados within striking distance. But with the score at 107 for four in the 13th over, their chase unravelled.

Pandey was at the heart of the collapse. The Indian seamer first dismissed Matthews for 19 off 13 balls before removing Naijanni Cumberbatch and Afy Fletcher to finish with impressive figures of 3.4-0-17-3. She also took two catches and was named Player of the Match.

Her economy rate of 4.63 proved crucial as Barbados struggled to hold on to the partnership. Deandra Dottin and Samara Ramnath claimed two wickets apiece as Trident were bowled out for 134 in 18.4 overs.

It was a night to forget for Pooja Vastrakar. The Indian all-rounder struggled with both bat and ball, conceding 23 runs from his two overs without taking a wicket. She then managed just two runs off three balls before being dismissed by Dottin.

Yastika and Pandey will look to build on their impressive starts when the Knight Riders take on the Jamaica Express at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on September 10.

Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Tridents Indians Short Score

  • Yastika Bhatia: 35 off 28 balls (6 fours)
  • Shikha Pandey: 8 off 2 balls; 3.4-0-17-3, 2 catches
  • Pooja Vastrakar: 2 off 3 balls; 2-0-23-0
  • Kiran Navgire: 28 off 21 balls (2 fours, 1 six)

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

06 Sep 2026 18:08 IST