After being dismissed for 200 in 49.4 overs, Trinidad and Tobago then restricted the St Lucians to 159 in 45.5 overs, to claim the title they last won in 2000 in St Lucia.

Determined to reverse the result of the round-robin match when they lost by 12 runs, the Trinidadians turned in an outstanding bowling and fielding performance that shackled the much-vaunted St Lucia batting line-up. Most outstanding was seamer Sherna Assoon who held two wonderful catches to get rid of the hard-hitting and dangerous opener Nadine George (14) and top-scorer Eugenia Gregg (39).

George, who struck three boundaries, took two in the same over in which Assoon held a sharp return catch to get rid of the left-hander. That made the score 23 for two since Roselyn Emmanuel (0) was caught off Envis Williams in the first over of the innings.

Although the scoring rate was high, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as only Eugene of the top-order batters spent any reasonable time at the crease.

Hermina Vitte (6) was caught by Envis Williams off left-arm spinner Felicia Cummings who also had skipper Verena Felicien (5) caught by Nelly Williams and Phillipa Thomas (2) caught by Brenda Solozano. Pamela Alfred (0) was also run-out by Solozano as she lingered out of her crease after being refused a single by Gregg.

The match was however decided when Gregg was eighth out to a marvellous catch by Assoon running in from long off. The St Lucian number four tried to loft Nelly Williams over the top but found the lanky Assoon who had to leap to her right after running in a bit too fast. The score was then 109 and when Celicia Mann (1) was caught by wicketkeeper Nita Naipaulsingh off Envis Williams at 117 the writing was on the wall.

It was some 42 runs before the final rites were performed, however, because Elizabeth Williams and Naralee Cooper refused to roll over and die. Williams hit three boundaries in a 66-ball unbeaten 37 while Cooper's was the last wicket to fall, caught by Naipaulsingh off Solozano for 10.

Cummings was the most successful Trinidad bowler with three for 29 while Envis Williams claimed two for 17.

Earlier, St Lucia put on one of their poorer displays in the field as Trinidad and Tobago - led by a 61-ball 62 from skipper Stephanie Power and an attractive 45 from Envis Williams - recovered from a shaky start to post their formidable total.

Williams, who struck six fours from 60 deliveries, was mis-stumped by George, who replaced the injured Emmanuel behind the stumps, when she was 33 while Power was put down by Vitte off Thomas when on 47.

Erica George, Nita Naipaulsingh and Jade Chadee were also let off by the slippery-fingered St Lucians - the easiest chance being the lob offered by Chadee to Cooper at short-extra cover.

Power, batting at number nine, slammed eight fours before she was last out, she and Williams posting 54 in six overs for the eighth wicket after their team had slumped to 102 for seven in the 36th over. Williams, who was eventually adjudged leg-before-wicket to Felicien, held the innings together after the early troubles while Power provided the lower order impetus.

After winning the toss and batting, Trinidad and Tobago lost Solozano in the first over, leg-before to an off-cutter from Herman, who also had Shane Da Silva caught by Cooper at mid-off. Felicien captured the wickets of Naipaulsingh bowled for nine; George leg-before for 18 and Nelly Williams, caught at mid-wicket for nine, as Trinidad slumped to 59 for five.

Erica Williams and Chadee (12) then added 38 for the sixth wicket before the latter was run-out. She was followed back to the pavilion by Shelly Felix stumped by George off Williams, to bring Power to the crease.

After Envis Williams went, Cummings and Power added 36 in eight overs with the latter reaching her 50 off 57 deliveries with five boundaries. Power then played the shot of the day, dancing down the pitch to hit a scorching straight drive for four off the bowling of Thomas. She counted two more boundaries off Cooper before being bowled by the same bowler to end the innings.

Felicien ended with four for 19 from 10 overs while Herman had two for 14 from 10.

The presentation of prizes won during the tournament was scheduled for last night at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue.

TRINIDAD
B. Solozano lbw b Herman 0
N. Naipaulsingh b Felicien 9
E. George lbw b Felicien 18
S. Da Silva c Cooper b Herman 4
N. Williams c George b Felicien 7
J. Chadee run-out 12
E. Williams lbw b Felicien 45
S. Felix stp. George b E. Williams 1
S. Power b Cooper 62
F. Cummings c Thomas b Cooper 5
S. Assoon not out 0
Extras: (lb-3, nb-2, w-32) 37
Total: (all out in 49.4 overs) 200
Wickets Fell At: 0, 39, 44, 47, 59, 97, 102, 156, 192.
Bowling: Herman 10-2-14-2 (w-5), Thomas 3-0-23-0 (w-9), Gregg 6-0-34-0 (w-3), Felicien 10-4-19-4 (w-5), William 10-0-42-1 (nb-1), Vitte 3-0-16-0 (nb-1, w-3), Cooper 7.4-0-49-1 (w-7).