A match-winning magnificent unbeaten 50 (23 balls, 4x6s and 2x4s) by Pakistan T20 captain Mohammed Hafeez piloted the Guyana Amazon Warriors to a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Antigua Hawksbills at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium last evening. The Amazon Warriors climbed to the top of the six team standings on ten points with their fifth win and a secure place in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League semi-finals while the Hawksbills were out of the reckoning.

That victory also ensured that Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, on six points; will also advance because the Hawksbills and St Lucia Zouks completed their seven-match fixture on four points each.
Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Tallawahs, bracketed on eight points each; clinch the other two semi-final spots and their encounter today will determine the top four finishers and their pairings for the “Semis” carded for August 22 and 23 at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Antigua Hawksbills batted first and amassed a challenging 166 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. The Guyana Amazon Warriors replied with 170 for 5 off 20 overs.
Set to get at least 8.33 runs per over, Guyana openers Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill were as usual to slow in rotating the strike or even scoring boundaries and after five overs the score was 29 without loss. But Jamaica’s leftarm speedster Sheldon Cotterrell had struck the gloves of Guptill with the fifth ball of his third over (5th overall) and the New Zealander retired injuried.
With the required run rate now up to 9.20, it was very surprising that Trevon Griifith, playing in first match of the series was sent in to partner Simmons. Both struggled to pierce the inner field and were unable to hit boundaries.
After 10 overs, the score was now 56 without loss at 5.80 but the asking rate climbed to 11.10 per over.
Griffith was brilliant caught by diving Ben Rohrer off the bowling of Gavin Tonge who also dismissed Simmons who caught by Cotterrell for 23 (28balls, 1×4, 1×6). Griffith made 15 off 19 balls.
James Franklin was joined by Mohammed Hafeez and they rekindled hope for the Amazon Warriors with a crucial 48-run third wicket partnership that was broken by a direct hit by Ricky Ponting from the backward point position after Franklin was sent back after he attempted to get a single. His valiant diving effort was in vain and departed for 25 (16balls, 2x6s and 1×4).
Christopher Barnwell joined Hafeez and they continued the same momentum and added a further 34 in 3.2 overs. Barnwell lofted shot off Tonge was caught by Kemar Roach and he contributed 16 runs that contained two fours off 12 balls. Skipper Sarwan was run out for four (4 balls).
Twelve runs were required from the final over. Sunil Narine smashed the third for a massive six then a single which brought Hafeez to face Devon Thomas with seven runs to get from two balls.
Hafeez flicked a full toss for six and then on drove the final delivery for four and sparked wild celebrations from among the massive Guyanese supporters at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Earlier, skipper Marlon Samuels, having won the toss elected to bat first on an even paced pitch; led the batting charge with some scintillating strokes. He promoted himself to the important number three slot after attacking opener Johnson Charles was dismissed by Krishmar Santokie for only eight runs and 26 for 1 after 2.2 overs.
Samuels was associated in an enterprising 71-run second wicket partnership (10 overs) with Kieran Powell.
He smashed three sixes and two fours off thirty deliveries and was particularly severe on Veerasammy Permaul whom he hit for two consecutive sixes off the fourth and fifth deliveries of his second over which resulted in 15 runs to the total
. And he treated James Franklin with almost similar disdain by smacking two fours of the fourth and fifth balls of his first over and 12th of the innings.
Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan re-introduced Santokie into the attack and it paid dividends as the leftarm seamer removed his Jamaican compatriot who had threatened to create havoc on the Warriors bowling attack. Samuels departed for an attractive 43 that was studded with three sixes and two fours off 30 deliveries.
Kieran Powell soon followed his captain back to the pavilion in the sixteenth over, bowled by Santokie for 47 that included one six and five fours off 45 deliveries.
Australian Ben Rohrer 25 not out (17 balls, 2x4s and 1×6) and Devon Thomas 30 (19 balls, 3x6s) upped the tempo and posted a quickfire 48 off 3.4 overs for the fourth wicket.
But a controversial obstructing the field dismissal upheld by umpire Joel Wilson, after consultation with the TV umpire Billy Bowden saw the demise of Thomas who had struck out his right arm out and prevented a direct throw to the stumps by Santokie, at the batting end; as the batsmen crossed for a quick single.
Thomas found himself using his arm to guide the ball away from its path towards the stumps.
Santokie scalped Kemar Roach in the final over and finished as the most successful bowler with three wickets for 19. With all the attacking strokeplay, wrist spinner Sunil Narine was very economical and finished with 4-0-13-0 while Barnwell 4-0-48-1 and Permaul 3-0-39-0 proved very expensive.