Needing 65 to win from 20 overs, Meg Lanning scored an unbeaten 36 from 21 balls and Alyssa Healy 23 from 24 balls to propel Australia to 68-1 in just 8.1 overs.
The pair shared in a second-wicket partnership of 63 after Australia had lost the wicket of Beth Mooney for two in the second over.
Shanika Bruce was the lone wicket-taker for Barbados. She took 1-7 from the two overs she bowled.
Australia won the toss and sent Barbados to bat on a grassy pitch that held no terrors. Openers Deandra Dottin and Captain Hayley Matthews got the Caribbean representatives off to a good start getting to 20 inside four overs.
However, it all began to go wrong with the fifth ball of the fourth over bowled by Darcie Brown. Matthews had punished the bowler with two boundaries before getting out to an injudicious shot for 18.
She was the only batter to get into double figures as Deandra Dottin went for eight as Barbados slipped to 37 for 2. Shortly thereafter Kycia Knight was out for nine pulling Tahlia McGrath down to backward square where Megan Schutt held onto an easy catch and leave Barbados in serious trouble on 39-3 in the ninth over.
Barbados lost their last seven wickets for just 25 runs courtesy of Alana King who took 4-8 and McGrath 3-13. Ashleigh Gardener chipped in with a haul of 2-6 from her four overs as the batters fell like nine pins.
Pinnock and McLeod jumped 7.92 and 7.91, respectively, to finish as the top two ahead of Georgia’s Matthew Boling who jumped 7.86 for third.
St. Lucian Texas Junior and former St. Catherine High sprinter Julien Alfred turned heads in the Women’s 60m preliminaries with a personal best, collegiate and national record 7.04 to be the fastest qualifier to the final.
Jamaicans Charokee Young and Stacey-Ann Williams were the two fastest qualifiers in the Women’s 400m. Young, formerly of Hydel High and now competing for Texas A&M, advanced fastest with 51.70 while Williams, formerly of STETHS and now competing for The University of Texas, ran 51.89 to qualify second fastest.
Richards, who ran a personal best 45.00 to win the World title in Belgrade in 2022, ran a season’s best 45.74 for victory in the Men’s 400m ahead of the USA’s Vernon Norwood (45.92) and Ireland’s Jack Rafferty (46.66).
This was the Trinidadian’s second win in a row after. He ran 45.84 to win at the Millrose Games on February 11.
Elsewhere, 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle jumped a season’s best 8.13m for second in the long jump, won by the USA’s Marquis Dendy with 8.28m. American William Williams was third with 8.03m.
2022 World 200m Champion Shericka Jackson ran 7.18 to finish fourth in the 60m behind the British pair of Dina Asher-Smith (7.05) and Darryl Neita (7.12). The USA’s Destiny Smith-Barnett finished third in 7.15. Asher-Smith’s time broke her own British record.
In their most clinical display so far, Jamaica scored their goals from 109 attempts to become the first team to achieve 100 or more goals in a match at these Games.
Shimona Nelson led their scoring with 58 goals from 60 attempts while Jhaniele Fowler who replaced her to start the fourth quarter scored 24 from 27 attempts. Shanice Beckford contributed 12 goals from 13 attempts and Rebekah Robinson was a perfect nine from nine.
Jamaica outscored the Barbadians each quarter 23-5, 28-4, 22-8, and 30-7 in the dominant display.
Faye Agard scored 10 goals from 12 attempts and Shonica Wharton 10 from 15 in the Gems' losing effort.
In the other match in Pool A, Australia defeated South Africa 74-48.
Paul, unquestionably the best rider in the Caribbean, finished behind Australia’s Matthew Richardson, who was 0.628 ahead of the gifted Trinidadian over the two races. Scotland’s Jack Carlin secured the bronze medal.
Paul won Trinidad and Tobago’s first medal at the championships with a dominating performance in the keirin on Saturday.
He won by 0.406s ahead of Carlin.
Malaysian Shah Sarhom was third 0.424 behind the winner.
Paul’s teammate Kwesi Browne finished sixth.
