Henry’s last-ball sixes seal thriller as Empress edge Warriors by one wicket
Chinelle Henry produced one of the most memorable finishes in the short history of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League as Jamaica Empress claimed a thrilling one-wicket victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors in their debut match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Sunday.
The result, decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after rain interrupted the contest, saw Empress reach 136 for nine in 19 overs while chasing a revised target of 132. They got home with the final ball of the match, Henry remaining unbeaten on 41 from just 21 deliveries after smashing three sixes in the last over. Guyana Amazon Warriors had earlier posted 138 for seven in their full allocation of 20 overs.
It was the kind of finish that leaves spectators breathless and players drained. For a brand-new franchise making its first appearance in the competition, the win carried extra weight. Jamaica Empress, the fourth team introduced to expand the league this year, announced themselves with a performance full of character, resilience and late-game power.
The day began under clear skies at the famous Kensington Oval, the traditional home of West Indies cricket and now the sole venue for the entire 2026 Women’s Caribbean Premier League. All matches in the tournament are being staged in Barbados, a decision that has concentrated attention and atmosphere in one place. Crowds have responded with enthusiasm, and Sunday’s second match of the season drew a lively gathering that grew louder as the drama unfolded.
Jamaica Empress won the toss and elected to field first. The decision looked sound early on as the Warriors struggled for fluency. Rosemary Mair removed Tazmin Brits for just one, and Chinelle Henry herself chipped in by dismissing Eboni Brathwaite cheaply. At 7 for two after 4.4 overs, the Guyana side was under pressure.
Realeanna Grimmond and Shemaine Campbelle then steadied the innings with a substantial partnership. Grimmond played with patience and purpose, reaching 45 from 46 balls with five fours and a six before Nonkululeko Mlaba had her caught by Zaida James. Campbelle was more aggressive, racing to 56 from only 33 deliveries. Her innings featured seven boundaries and two sixes and lifted the Warriors to 104 for two. At that stage a total well beyond 150 seemed possible.
The middle and lower order, however, could not maintain the momentum. Stafanie Taylor, captaining the new franchise after years of service with the Warriors themselves, claimed two wickets. Mlaba finished with two for 15 from her four overs, the most economical spell of the innings. The final five wickets tumbled for just 22 runs. Chloe Tryon, the new Warriors captain, remained unbeaten on 21 from 16 balls, but the total of 138 for seven felt modest on a good batting surface.
Rain then arrived, interrupting the chase and forcing a revision of the target. Jamaica Empress were set 132 to win from 19 overs. The shortened contest added urgency from the start.
Meg Lanning, the experienced Australian and one of the marquee overseas signings for the new side, wasted little time. She raced to 31 from 21 balls with five fours, showing the timing and placement that have defined her career. Rashada Williams provided solid support at the other end, also reaching 31. The pair gave Empress a platform, and at one stage the required rate looked comfortable.
Yet the middle overs brought a sharp change in fortune. Erin Burns produced an outstanding spell of two for three from two overs. Shabnim Ismail, the veteran South African fast bowler, also claimed two wickets. The Warriors bowlers found their lengths and the Empress batters began to find the fielders. Danielle Joseph made 19 before falling, and captain Taylor was run out for a solitary run. Suddenly the chase had tightened.
When the rain interruption ended and the revised target was confirmed, Empress still needed substantial runs with wickets falling. Henry walked in with the score under pressure and initially struggled for timing, sitting on five from seven balls at one point. The required rate climbed. After the loss of Aaliyah Alleyne to a sharp one-handed catch by Tryon at cover, the equation stood at 28 needed from the final 12 deliveries.
Henry then found her range. She struck Ismail for a six and a four in successive balls, keeping the strike where possible. By the start of the final over the situation had simplified to 17 runs required with three wickets still intact. Tryon, the left-arm spinner and Warriors captain, took the ball.
What followed will be replayed for years. Tryon began with a wide. Rosemary Mair was then run out attempting a risky second run. Henry responded by clearing the midwicket boundary for six. Syeda Aroob Shah was also run out in the scramble to keep Henry on strike. With nine wickets down, eight runs still needed from the last two balls, and only Nonkululeko Mlaba left as partner, Henry had no choice but to finish it herself.
She stayed put after hitting the fourth ball of the over into the deep, refusing a single that might have left her stranded. Then she launched the fifth delivery over midwicket for six. The sixth ball followed the same path, soaring over long-on and into the stands. The crowd erupted. Empress had reached 136 for nine. Henry stood unbeaten on 41, having struck three fours and four sixes in total. The last over alone had cost 21 runs.
The scenes that followed were pure celebration. Players from the Empress dugout poured onto the field. Henry, usually measured in her celebrations, allowed herself a broad smile and a raised bat. For a franchise that had only been announced earlier in the year, the victory provided the perfect introduction. Stafanie Taylor, who had switched from the Warriors to lead her home side, spoke afterwards of the belief within the group and the importance of finishing strong.
From the Warriors’ perspective the loss was painful. They had controlled large parts of the contest and restricted the scoring effectively for long periods. Campbelle’s half-century and Grimmond’s solid contribution had given them a competitive total. Burns and Ismail had applied the squeeze in the middle overs. Yet the final over proved decisive, and Tryon was left reflecting on the execution under extreme pressure.
The match also highlighted the growing depth of women’s cricket in the Caribbean. The expansion to four teams has brought new energy and additional opportunities for local and overseas talent. Jamaica Empress feature a blend of experienced West Indies players such as Taylor, Henry and Williams alongside high-profile imports including Lanning, Mlaba, Amy Hunter, Syeda Aroob Shah and Rosemary Mair. The Warriors fielded their own mix of Caribbean talent and overseas professionals, with Tryon as captain and Ismail providing pace.
Kensington Oval provided a fitting stage. The ground has witnessed countless memorable moments in West Indies cricket history, and this contest added another chapter, even if on a smaller scale. The crowd responded to every boundary and every wicket with the passion that characterises Caribbean cricket. When Henry cleared the ropes twice in succession at the end, the noise was deafening.
Looking ahead, both sides have further group matches to play. Empress face Trinbago Knight Riders next, while the Warriors will look to bounce back against the same opposition later in the week. The tournament format sees each team play the others once in the round-robin stage. The top side advances directly to the final, while second and third contest a playoff. With only three matches each in the league phase, every point carries significant value.
Henry’s performance earned her the player-of-the-match award, a recognition that barely needed formal announcement. Her ability to absorb pressure, assess the situation and then explode with power at the decisive moment spoke of experience and composure. At 30 years of age she continues to deliver impactful performances for West Indies and now for her new franchise.
The broader context of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League is one of steady growth. What began as a three-team competition has evolved, and the addition of Jamaica Empress marks another step. Plans already exist for further expansion in future seasons, potentially including teams from outside the region. Matches of this quality and drama only strengthen the case for continued investment and attention.
For the players themselves, days like this remain the reason they compete. The nerves, the calculation, the execution under lights or under a setting sun, the collective roar when the winning runs come. Henry’s three sixes in the final over provided exactly that.
As the players left the field, the conversation already turned to what the result meant. For Empress it was validation of their preparation and belief. For the Warriors it was a reminder that no total is safe and no contest is over until the last ball is bowled. Cricket at this level rarely delivers more compelling theatre.
The 2026 season is only two matches old, yet already it has produced a classic. Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, and the second match of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League will be remembered for the day Chinelle Henry refused to accept defeat and dragged her new team over the line in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. One wicket remaining, zero balls left, and a victory that will live long in the memory of everyone who witnessed it.
