By Anas Ahmed 
Russell’s strike sets the tone
The Caribbean Premier League 2025 Final at Providence began with a gamble from the Guyana Amazon Warriors — batting first on a tacky surface. That decision unraveled instantly as Andre Russell sent back opener Quinton Sampson for a duck with a sharp short ball.
Ben McDermott tried to counter with three consecutive boundaries, but his aggression ended in frustration, picking out the lone sweeper fielder. From there, the Warriors’ innings never truly recovered.
Hosein and Netravalkar choke the middle overs
The star of the evening was Saurabh Netravalkar, drafted into the XI late in the campaign. His left-arm angle and clever change of pace dismantled Guyana’s hopes. He claimed 3/25 in four overs, dismissing McDermott, Pretorius, and Iftikhar at crucial stages.
Meanwhile, Akeal Hosein tightened the screws, returning 2/26, including the key wicket of Shai Hope. His disciplined spell ensured that Guyana’s middle order never found momentum.
Captain Nicholas Pooran’s rotation of his bowlers was spot on, with Sunil Narine providing control even without wickets. Usman Tariq chipped in as well, dismissing Moeen Ali cheaply.
Warriors’ late resistance not enough
Guyana’s innings was salvaged only by brief cameos. Iftikhar Ahmed (30 off 27) and Dwaine Pretorius (25 off 18) added some late muscle. Romario Shepherd’s 13 off 9 pushed them to respectability, but the lack of partnerships haunted their innings.
From 59/4 at the halfway mark, they scraped to 130/8 in 20 overs — far below par in a CPL Final.
Netravalkar reflects
After his spell, Netravalkar highlighted the game plan: “I stuck to my strengths, going over the wicket and mixing slower balls. The crowd atmosphere is electric, and I’m just grateful for this platform. Our batting lineup has the power to chase this down, so we’ll take it ball by ball.”
Brief Score
Guyana Amazon Warriors 130/8 in 20 overs
(Ben McDermott 28, Iftikhar Ahmed 30, Pretorius 25; Saurabh Netravalkar 3/25, Akeal Hosein 2/26, Andre Russell 1/18)
Outlook
The Trinbago Knight Riders, chasing 131, have the firepower of Alex Hales, Colin Munro, and Nicholas Pooran to call upon. With dew expected to aid batting, the Knight Riders hold the upper hand, leaving the Amazon Warriors needing a miracle to defend their modest score.
Zainab Shafiq