USA gave the Cayman Islands Women’s team a harsh introduction to international cricket, beating the host country by 68 runs on Monday in the 2012 ICC Americas Women’s Twenty20 Championship at Smith Road Oval in George Town, Cayman Islands. Nadia Gruny top scored with 36 off 32 balls, including three boundaries, in USA’s total of 125 for 4 before they bowled out Cayman Islands for 57 in 19 overs.

USA won the toss and batted first as Geetha Shawkarla, Delkash Shahriarian and Sahar Azmat sat out of the starting lineup for USA while the Cayman Islands Women’s team embarked on their first ever official match. Gruny and Karen Bayles opened  the batting but Bayles didn’t last long, out third ball without scoring to Paulette Robinson to make it 16 for 1. Gruny was joined by USA captain Candacy Atkins and the two added 38 for the second wicket before Gruny was bowled by Sheila Rankine.

Former Trinidad & Tobago representative Melissa Sandy came to the crease and along with Atkins produced the biggest partnership of the match with 55 runs for the third wicket. Sandy eventually departed for 27 off 32 balls, caught by Cayman Islands captain Molly Anne Moore off the bowling of Carmel Harms. Atkins left two runs later for 29 off 44, caught by Harms off Deserne Cox. Samantha Ramautar and Triholder Marshall then added on another 14 runs before the end of the innings to take USA to a total which they easily defended.

Robinson had the best figures for Cayman Islands with 1 for 6 in two overs. Rankine was the most expensive with 1 for 33 in four overs. Cayman Islands conceded a total of 23 extras in the field, including 16 wides.

Cayman Islands never had a chance in the chase after losing three quick wickets, sliding to 7 for 3 in the sixth over. Robinson was run out without facing a delivery while her fellow opener Harms got a duck in more orthodox fashion, trapped LBW by Ramautar before Indiana Watson-Scott was bowled by Claudine Beckford for 1.

The fourth wicket stand of 18 between Moore and Wyvonne Forbes was the best of the innings for Cayman Islands. Forbes was eventually out for 4 to give Beckford her second wicket. Akshatha Rao dismissed Carnet McField for 3 to make it 36 for 5 and Gruny bowled Cox for 2 to make it 43 for 6 in the 14th over.

After being USA’s leading wicket-taker last November in Bangladesh, Marshall finally got into the act as Vanessa Cameron Clarke was pinned LBW for 2 to make it 52 for 7 in the 17th. Moore’s resistance was finally ended by Ramautar in the next over for 18 off 45 balls to make it 52 for 8. Marshall ran out Melrose McFarlane for 1 to make it 53 for 9 and Beulah Pidakala wrapped up the match at the end of the 19th as she pulled off USA’s third runout of the innings, sending Rankine on her way for 2.

Beckford had USA’s best figures in the match with 2 for 2 in four overs including three maidens. Ramautar was just as impressive with 2 for 4 in three. Marshall finished with 1 for 10 in four but only three of those runs were conceded off the bat. Extras wound up being the top score for Cayman Islands in the innings as USA gave away 23 of them including 18 wides.

In the other matches on Monday, Canada defeated Brazil by 126 runs in the morning match at J.P. Powell Oval. Brazil won the toss and sent Canada in to bat and the tournament favourites were happy to oblige, racking up 181 for 3 in their 20 overs. Durriya Shabbir top scored for Canada with 63 off 52 balls, including four boundaries, and was part of a 99-run partnership for the third wicket with Joanna White. Brazil was then restricted to 55 for 8 in their 20 overs. Kamna Mi

rchandani took 3 for 13 in four overs in the field for Canada.

In the late game at J.P. Powell Oval, Argentina won by 8 wickets over Bermuda. Argentina won the toss and sent Bermuda in to bat. The decision worked to great effect as Bermuda was bowled out for 59 in 17.5 overs. Sharon Seaton opened the bowling and did the early damage for Argentina, taking 3 for 24 in four overs. Mercedes Esperon applied pressure later in the innings, taking 2 for 1 in three overs. Extras top scored for Bermuda with 14. Argentina chased the target in 10.4 overs. Dirce Yuli top scored with 23 off 25 balls.