Republic Bank CPL T20 at the Providence Stadium
IN 2019, the Guyana Amazon Warriors created history by remaining unbeaten for 11 consecutive games before losing the final to Barbados.
In this 14th edition, the GAWs have now extended their winning streak to six when they demolished the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by seven wickets at Providence last night.
Despite Alick Athanaze’s 52 from 39 balls with two fours and four sixes, the Patriots were bowled out for only 128 in 19.2 overs.
Man-of-the-Match Mohammad Nabi captured 4-17 and got support from Romario Shepherd, who took 3-16 and Shamar Joseph, who had 2-22.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39) and an unfinished 54-run fourth-wicket stand between Skipper Shai Hope with 38 from 44 balls (4X3) and Nabi 25 not out from 21 balls (4X2, 6X1) powered the home side to 132-3 in 18.3 overs.
Navin Bidaisee had 2-20 in a losing effort.
The Patriots elected to bat in sweltering heat on a good track and a fast outfield, and Kyle Mayers square-drove Dwaine Pretorius for four.
The 37-year-old Johnson Charles hit left-arm spinner Khary Pierre for a six and four off consecutive deliveries before Mayers edged Pretorius for four and followed up with a four that went through Pierre at point.
Shepherd bowled Mayers in the fourth over for 20 from just 12 balls with three fours and a six, to break the threatening partnership and leave the visitors on 34-1.
The 38-year-old Andre Fletcher edged Joseph over the head of slip to get off the mark with a fortuitous boundary before he fell in the same over at 38-2.
Shepherd then produced a maiden in which he bowled Charles (13) at 39-3 in the sixth over, to the roar of the crowd, which turned up in full numbers, despite the extreme heat.
Jason Holder and Athanaze posted the team’s 50 in eight overs before off-spinner Mohammad Nabi removed Holder (13) at 56-4.
The 27-year-old Dominican reached his fourth T20 50 with a towering six off Pretorius, the score coming from 36 balls and included two fours and four sixes.
However, the left-hander was running out of partners before he was out, caught behind off Joseph, as only Dasun Shanaka, who hit a six and four in a cameo 20, apart from the openers, reached double figures.
The Warriors began their reply like a house on fire, galloping to 50 in 28 balls, with Gurbaz dominating with 35 of those runs and Mavindra Dindyal contributing just seven.
Gurbaz clobbered two sixes and five fours in 39, before Wanindu Hasaranga bowled him at 58-1 after six overs
Bidaisee had Dindyal caught and bowled for a ball-a-run 17, with a couple of boundaries, to leave the Warriors on 74-2 in 8.3 overs.
Shimron Hetmyer, with 230 runs in this year’s tournament, joined his skipper Shai Hope as the sun faded, creating a twilight.
But Hetmyer would not provide any entertainment for another horn-blowing, flag-waving capacity crowd.
The Berbican, one of five centurions in CPL 2016, tried to hit Bidaisee for six and was caught at long-on by Holder for one at 78-3.
Nabi, who, along with Gurbaz, departed for India last night for International duty for Afghanistan, joined Hope and together they batted the Warriors to another convincing victory.
The Warriors’ next game is against the St Lucia Falcons from 7 PM tomorrow.
