Tuesday, January 14, 2026. Arnos Vale Playing Ground, St. Vincent.
Guyana Women’s cricket team faces elimination. They’ve posted only 96 runs. The Windward Islands need just 97 to win and have cruised to 78-2 with two overs remaining.
The game is over. Except it isn’t.
In a stunning display of nerve, skill, and sheer refusal to lose, Guyana’s bowlers—led by Plaffiana Millington’s ice-cold final over—defend the impossible. The Windward Islands collapse, losing three wickets while adding only 11 runs.
Final score: Windward Islands 89-5. Guyana wins by 7 runs, defending their title in the most dramatic fashion possible.
Back home, a nation erupts. Not just cricket fans—everyone. For once, nobody’s arguing about politics.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Guyana’s women’s cricket team achieved dramatic victory defending 96 runs against Windward Islands
- Their success symbolizes national unity and possibility in a politically divided country
- Women’s cricket has seen explosive growth since 2019, with Guyana leading regional development
- Key players like Shabika Gajnabi, Plaffiana Millington, and Ashmini Munisar are inspiring new generations
- The real victory is changing perceptions about women’s sports and creating new role models
MORE THAN A GAME
To understand why this victory matters so much, you need to understand what cricket means in Guyana.
“Cricket is our cultural language,” explains sports journalist Malcolm Walker. “In a country divided by politics, race, and geography, cricket is the one conversation everyone participates in equally.”
But for most of Guyana’s history, that conversation centered on men’s cricket. Women’s cricket existed, but in the shadows. Underfunded, under-covered, under-appreciated.
That’s changing.
THE REVOLUTION BEGINS
The transformation started in the aftermath of 2019’s Cricket World Cup hosted in the Caribbean. Seeing the global growth of women’s cricket, Cricket West Indies committed to developing regional women’s programs.
Investment increased. Training facilities improved. Most importantly, media coverage expanded. “We went from being an afterthought to being on the front page,” recalls Shemaine Campbelle, Guyana’s veteran wicketkeeper-batter.
The impact was immediate. By 2022, Guyana had more registered female youth cricketers than any other Caribbean territory.
THE 2025 BREAKTHROUGH
The 2025 CWI T20 Blaze Championship marked Guyana’s ascension to dominance. The team, captained by Shabika Gajnabi, swept through the competition with aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and field athleticism that redefined expectations.
They won convincingly. But more importantly, they did it with style—entertaining cricket that drew crowds and television viewers.
THE STARS EMERGE
Shabika Gajnabi (Captain): The 27-year-old all-rounder leads with quiet confidence and explosive batting.
Plaffiana Millington: The spinner who clutched Tuesday’s victory is cricket’s version of an ice queen—nerveless under pressure.
Ashmini Munisar: The 23-year-old fast bowler brings genuine pace that unsettles batters.
Sheneta Grimmond: The medium-pacer who provides crucial control in the middle overs.
These aren’t just athletes. They’re role models, showing young Guyanese girls that sporting excellence is achievable.
BEYOND THE BOUNDARY
The team’s impact extends far beyond cricket statistics. Girls’ cricket programs have quadrupled since 2023. Corporate sponsors are investing. Even politicians who disagree on everything unite in praising the cricket team.
THE CHALLENGES REMAIN
Despite progress, challenges persist. Funding gaps remain. Few women can make cricket a full-time career. Media coverage still lags men’s games. In some communities, traditional gender norms still discourage girls from sports.
WHAT IT ALL MEANS
Why does this matter? In a country often defined by what divides us, these women provide something increasingly rare: a source of pure, uncomplicated national pride.
It’s not just about cricket. It’s about possibility. These women prove that Guyanese excellence isn’t a myth. With dedication, support, and opportunity, Guyanese women can compete with—and beat—anyone.
Ten-year-old Aliya Singh practices in her Berbice yard every afternoon. “I want to be like Plaffiana,” she says, grinning. “I want to represent Guyana.”
This is the real victory—not just championships won, but dreams unlocked.
CONCLUSION
Tuesday’s dramatic victory will be remembered as a classic match. But it represents something larger: a chapter in Guyana’s evolving story about who we are and what we can achieve.
These women aren’t just defending a cricket title. They’re defending a vision of Guyana where talent matters more than gender, where excellence is rewarded regardless of tradition, where the next generation has heroes who look like them.
“We play for every Guyanese,” Captain Gajnabi said after Tuesday’s victory. And for once, every single Guyanese seems to be playing for them too.