The Trinbago Knight Riders opened their 2026 Limacol Women’s Caribbean Premier League campaign with a composed 21-run victory over defending champions Barbados Tridents yesterday, defending 155 at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.Sent in after the Tridents chose to bowl, TKR made the most of the early conditions, racing to 71 for one at the end of the Powerplay. Laura Harris provided the early acceleration, smashing 33 from just 16 deliveries, while Yastika Bhatia added 23 from 15 as the pair gave the Knight Riders the platform for a competitive total.The opening partnership was worth 67 before Harris departed in the sixth over. Deandra Dottin and Bhatia subsequently took TKR to 93 before both fell in successive deliveries around the 10-over mark, leaving the Knight Riders 93 for three.From there, Barbados’ bowlers kept the pressure on and TKR lost wickets at regular intervals. Marizanne Kapp, Madeline Penna and the lower order nevertheless pushed the total beyond 150 before the final wicket fell from the last ball of the innings, leaving The Tridents to get 156 for victory after 20 overs.The Tridents appeared well-placed during the early stages of their reply. Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph fell before the Powerplay ended, but the Tridents still reached 47 for two after six overs.Maddy Green then helped stabilise the innings and Barbados reached 85 for three at the half-way stage, requiring 71 from the final ten overs. They moved past 100 in the 12th over and remained within striking distance.That, however, proved to be the turning point.TKR began striking regularly, and the Tridents’ chase unravelled as wickets fell in quick succession. From 85 for three, the Tridents lost their remaining seven wickets and were eventually bowled out for 134 in 18.4 overs.The fall of wickets told the story of TKR’s second-half control: Naijanni Cumberbatch fell at 107, Suzie Bates at 108, Kiran Prabhu Navgire at 111, Pooja Vastrakar at 113, Shabika Gajnabi at 115, Shawnisha Hector at 121 and Afy Fletcher was the final wicket at 134.The 21-run victory gives TKR an important opening win against the defending champions and was just reward for their aggressive start with the bat, followed by sustained pressure with the ball.Today, WCPL action continues with the Guyana Amazon Warriors facing new team Jamaica Empress at Kensington from 10 a.m.TKR’s next match is Thursday against Jamaica Empress.Summarised scores:TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS WOMEN 155, 20 overs (Laura Harris 38, Yastika Bhatia 35, Madeline Penna 27, Deandra Dottin 14; Qiana Joseph 3/27, Suzie Bates 2/25, Hayley Matthews 2/26).vs BARBADOS TRIDENTS WOMEN 134, 18.4 overs (Kiran Navgire 28, Qiana Joseph 25, Maddy Green 24, Hayley Matthews 19; Shikha Pandey 3/17, Samara Ramnath 2/16, Deandra Dottin 2/24).—TKR Women won by 21 runs.