The Isle of Man Women finally had their moment of glory in the Women’s ICC T20 Tri-Series, registering their first-ever win of the competition with a composed chase against Jersey Women. After suffering early setbacks in their campaign, the side showed grit, patience, and smart cricket to chase down Jersey’s total with nearly six overs to spare.
Batting first, Jersey Women posted a fighting total of 115/7. The innings began cautiously, with captain Analise Merritt (10 off 13) and opener Aimee Aikenhead (8 off 11) attempting to lay a platform. However, the top order struggled for momentum as the Isle of Man bowlers kept things tight and chipped away with regular wickets. The middle order faltered under pressure, Grace Wetherall (3) and Maria Da Rocha (7) falling cheaply, leaving Jersey in danger of folding for a modest score.
Amidst the tumble, Lily Greig stood tall with a spirited knock of 21 off 16, striking with intent to keep the scoreboard ticking. Later in the innings, Annabel Mossop played a vital hand, remaining unbeaten on 20* off 30, while Mia Maguire chipped in with 12 off 12, giving Jersey’s total some respectability.
The damage, however, had already been inflicted by Isle of Man’s bowling attack, particularly Alanya Thorpe, who starred with figures of 4/24, dismantling the middle order with her sharp spells. Support came from Joanne Hicks (1/12), Lucy Barnett (1/16), and Georgina Ford (1/22), ensuring Jersey never broke free into a commanding position.
Chasing 116, Isle of Man Women displayed remarkable composure and a clear game plan. The innings was anchored by a brilliant knock from Lucy Barnett, who showcased her class with a fluent 48 off just 31 balls, striking boundaries at will and setting the tone for the chase. She was well supported by Libby Moore (20 off 23), who played the anchor’s role perfectly, rotating strike and building crucial partnerships.
As the chase progressed, Caitlin Henery added the finishing touches with a quickfire 24* off 17 balls, showing great maturity to guide her side home. Contributions from Clare Crowe (7) and Rachel Overman (1*) saw Isle of Man comfortably cross the target at 116/4 in 14.1 overs.
For Jersey, Georgia Mallet (2/15) bowled impressively, finding breakthroughs when her side needed them most, while Grace Wetherall (1/19) also picked up a wicket. But their efforts weren’t enough to stop a determined Isle of Man side.
The result marks a landmark moment for Isle of Man Women in the series, not only did they register their first win, but they also showed character in both bowling discipline and batting maturity. This victory will surely boost their confidence as the Tri-Series progresses, proving they are capable of competing with growing stature on the international stage.
