Ismail-led attack ends TKR's winning streak
On a slow Barbados surface, Guyana Amazon Warriors were able to successfully defend 119 to earn their first victory of the season and hand Trinbago Knight Riders their first defeat in the WCPL 2026.
All four teams are still in the running for the title after Amazon Warriors' win on Saturday.
TKR were looking for their third win in a row after becoming the early pacesetters this season. Deandon Dottin, Marizanne Kapp, and Shikha Pandey took six wickets each to keep Amazon Warriors below 120.
After reducing TKR to 22 for 5 in the powerplay, Shabnim Ismail, who is arguably the fastest bowler in women's cricket at the moment, and Shamilia Connell made the Amazon Warriors' total appear larger. Ismail cranked it up to speeds close to 115kph, accounting for TKR's top three: Yastika Bhatia (6), Laura Harris (0) and Dottin (13). TKR fell to 43 for 6 in the 11th over after Jahzara Claxton was bowled for a duck.
Madeline Penna, an Australian import for the Amazon Warriors, scored the most points for them in the chase with 28 from 22 balls, but the early damage was irreparable. Spinners Shenata Grimmond and Ashmini Munisar were also among the wickets as TKR could manage only 94 for 9 in their 20 overs.
Amazon Warriors' wicketkeeper-batter Shemaine Campbelle (31 off 28) was the only batter to pass 30 from either side in this low-scorer. Together with Erin Burns, she helped the Amazon Warriors recover from their own top-order meltdown. But from 56 for 3, they were able to post 119, which was more than enough for the Warriors in the end.
Taking the pitch out of the equation, Ismail's 4-0-21-3 performance earned her the Player of the Match award. "We were disappointed after the first game and we knew we needed to correct it in this game. Ismail stated, "We knew we need to be spot-on in the beginning because TKR have a lineup of word-class players." "Myself and Connell were not great in the powerplay in our first game, but we needed to fix it in this game.
"I think I was just hitting the right line and length today. I didn't try to do anything fancy upfront. It just boils down to execution and it came off today. They [Team-mates] say we [Connell and myself] are the two clowns in the team because we make everyone laugh. We were also watching what Marizanne Kapp did and wanted to do something similar to what Kapp did. I love bowling with Connell. She is always fun."