By Rajiv Bisnauth

A HEART-STOPPING encounter was the perfect ending to an intense tussle between the Guyana Amazon Warriors and Jamaica Tallawahs which the former won by seven wickets at the National Stadium, Providence, last evening.Match nine of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) went in favour of the Warriors after a pathetic batting display saw the Tallawahs blown away for 100 in 18 overs.
So bad was their display with the bat that only Rovman Powell (38) and Shakib Al Hasan (25) managed to pass 20.

Superb bowling by the Warriors ensured that they struck at regular intervals with none of their five bowlers used conceding more than seven runs per over. Left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul, adjudged Man-of-the-Match, was the best bowler on show, with 3-20 off his four overs
Meanwhile, left-arm seamer, Sohail Tanvir, leg-spinner, Adam Zampa and medium-pacer Rayad Emrit all claimed two wickets apiece.
After the Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and bowled first, Tanvir had the Tallawahs off to a dreadful start when he trapped danger man Chris Gayle leg before wicket for a first-ball duck with his trademark inswinger.
That pressure told, and the introduction of Permaul in the fifth over put the visitors in further trouble as Kumar Sangakarra skied Permaul’s third delivery to deep midwicket where Jason Mohammed completed a stunning catch.
He then added the scalp of Chadwick Walton the very next ball to leave the visitors 29-3 at the end of the power play overs.
Al Hasan and Powell led the Tallawahs’ recovery somewhat, as the duo struck the Australian Zampa for separate sixes in the next over, but Al Hasan then hauled Permaul to deep midwicket where Mohammed took a comfortable catch.
The Tallawahs then lost two wickets in consecutive balls to further derail their innings, Nkrumah Bonner and Andre McCarthy falling in Zampa’s third over before Tanvir returned in the 17th over to bowl Imad Wasim, after which Dale Steyn was run out while Emrit claimed the final two wickets of Powell and Kesrick Williams.
The visitors tenaciously worked themselves back into the game with the wickets of Martin Guptill and Dwayne Smith within the first six overs, both falling to Imad Wasim.
But the target never seemed enough and was always accessible as Chris Lynn and Mohammed obliterated any hopes the Tallawahs had by providing a decent platform, adding 42 for the third wicket.
Mohammed was removed by Al Hasan for 22, before Lynn and Anthony Bramble then excelled superbly with incredible cameos to see the Warriors home.
Lynn scored a 35-ball 39, inclusive of one four and three sixes, while Bramble stroked his way to 27 off just 18 balls with one four and two sixes.
The Warriors with three consecutive wins thus far will face the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots tomorrow at noon.