…Warriors face Royals tomorrow for a place in the final

THE St Lucia Kings, led by a century-opening stand, moved into Sunday’s final of the Republic Bank CPL when they beat defending Champions Guyana Amazon Warriors by 15 runs on the DLS system last night in Qualifier 1 at the Providence Stadium.
The Warriors still have a chance of reaching the final when they face Barbados Royals tomorrow from 19:00 hours in Qualifier 2.

Johnson Charles’ rumbustious 45-ball 79 included eight fours and five sixes while Skipper Faf du Plessis made 57 from 36 balls with five fours and three sixes.
The pair added 124 in 11.4 overs to lead the Kings to 198-5 in 20 overs. Pacer Dwaine Pretorius (2-51) and Moeen Ali (2-24) were the most successful bowlers for the Warriors who reached 106-4 in 13 overs.
When the Kings began their innings, du Plessis and Charles, with over 300 runs this season, were the key to the Kings posting a challenging total and they did not disappoint as boundaries rained at Providence under a clear night sky.

Charles dumped Pretorius a four, a six and a four in the second over which cost 15 runs. Charles blasted Pretorius a six and du Plessis clobbered for another before hammering Romario Shepherd for three consecutive boundaries as the Kings galloped 50 from 25 balls.
Charles celebrated the landmark by dancing into Pretorius lofting for an effortless six before edging him to the third- man boundary. Du Plessis deposited Tahir for a humongous six before Charles reached his 42nd fifty from 20 balls with six fours and three sixes as the runs flowed on a fast outfield

St Lucian Charles joined Nichols Pooran (504) and Quinton de Kock (438) with over 400 runs before disdainfully flicking Shamar Joseph for six in his first over to post the 100 partnership in 8.5 overs
Charles swept Motie for four and lifted him for six and after 10 overs the Kings were looking royal at 115 without loss as another capacity crowd were rooted to their seats, their faces grim.

Charles was caught at long-on as Moin Ali made the breakthrough in his first to leave the score 124-1 in the 12th over to bring the crowd to life.
Roston Chase joined the 40-year-old South African du Plisses who reached his half-century when he hit Joseph for six.
His 76th T20 fifty came from 34 balls with four fours and two sixes and he celebrated with another boundary off Joseph.

But with the total on 156 in the 15th over, Rahmanullah Gurbaz ran in from long-on and dived full length forward to pull off a stupendous catch as Joseph removed du Plessis for 58.
Tim Seifert (18) fell to Ali at 178-3 and the noise level of the screaming fans reached a crescendo.

Pretorius dismissed Chase (18) and Matthew Forde for a duck as the Kings lost two wickets at 190 and the Warriors did well to limit the score to less than 200 after the rollicking start.
Needing 199 to win, the Warriors used their 16th different opening pair in the last two seasons and lost Keemo Paul (14) when he departed at 22 in the 4th over.

Shai Hope and Gurbaz took the Warriors to 50 from 44 balls before Gurbaz (24) fell to David Wiese at 51-2.
At the halfway stage, the Warriors were 71-2.

Hope hit two sixes and a four in his 27 before he fell to Chase at 73-3 and when Pretorius (2) was bowled by the tournament’s leading wicket-taker Noor Ahmad for his 19th scalp.
Ali joined Hetmyer who dumped Chase for a couple of sixes and two more off Ahmad to give the crowd something to shout about.

But with the score on 106-4 in the 13th over and with Hetmyer on 37 from 17 balls, a heavy shower sent the players scurrying off the field at 21:55 hours with the Warriors 16 runs from where they needed to be and play never resumed.