The Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their stellar form in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024, claiming a thumping six-wicket victory over the Saint Lucia Kings at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet. With this win, the defending champions maintain their perfect record, topping the standings with three wins in as many games.
Kings’ Struggle with the Bat
Warriors’ captain Imran Tahir won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that paid off immediately. The Kings were rocked early, reduced to 43/4 in the PowerPlay as Gudakesh Motie and Imran Tahir ripped through their batting order. Motie, who was named Player of the Match, took 3/13, while Tahir added 3/29 to his tally.
Saint Lucia struggled to build momentum, with the top order collapsing under pressure. Some late hitting from Matthew Forde provided a brief respite, pushing the Kings to a total of exactly 100, but the damage was done.
Warriors’ Swift Chase
In response, the Warriors wasted no time chasing down the modest target. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the star of the show, blasting 47 off just 19 balls, with all his runs coming from seven towering sixes. Gurbaz’s aggressive approach set the tone for the chase, but he fell just short of a half-century after being trapped lbw by Noor Ahmad while attempting a reverse sweep.
Warriors debutant Tim Robinson also contributed with a quickfire 33 off 20 balls, including a beautiful lofted six down the ground. The Saint Lucia bowlers struggled to contain the firepower of the Warriors’ batting lineup, as the defending champions made light work of the chase.
Alzarri Joseph managed to take two wickets, including that of Azam Khan, but his efforts were in vain. Shimron Hetmyer sealed the win for the Warriors with a six and the winning runs, bringing a fitting end to a one-sided contest.
Key Performances:
- Gudakesh Motie: 3/13 in 4 overs, Player of the Match
- Imran Tahir: 3/29 in 4 overs
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 47 off 19 balls (7 sixes)
- Tim Robinson: 33 off 20 balls
- Matthew Forde: Top scorer for the Kings, provided late resistance
Brief Scores:
St Lucia Kings: 100 all out in 14.3 overs (Matthew Forde 31, Gudakesh Motie 3/16, Imran Tahir 3/29)
Guyana Amazon Warriors: 101/4 in 10 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 47, Noor Ahmad 3/22)
Result: Guyana Amazon Warriors won by 6 wickets with 60 balls remaining.
Player of the Match: Gudakesh Motie – 3/16 in 3.3 overs.
The win cements the Warriors’ position at the top of the table, while the Kings suffer their first defeat of the season. Both teams will look ahead to their next fixtures, with the Warriors aiming to maintain their unbeaten streak alongside the Barbados Royals, the only other unbeaten team in this year’s CPL.
