The Guyana Amazon Warriors opened their 2019 HERO Caribbean Premier League campaign with a 13-run win over the St. Lucia Zouks at the National Stadium, Providence last night.
Witnessed by a near capacity crowd, Warriors were sent in to bat, posting 155-8 in their allotted overs before containing the Zouks to 142-9.
The hosts started their innings with Brandon King carving the first delivery of the match for a boundary. However, he was soon back in the dugout after tickling a faint edge to Andre Fletcher behind the stumps for seven.
His opening partner, Chandrapaul Hemraj had a similar experience, smashing through the covers for four and elegantly going inside out over cover for a six but picked out Thisara Perera at long on. He made 14.
The Warriors were kept quiet as they reached 32-2 at the end of the power play but a 48-run partnership between ‘batting director,’ Shimron Hetmyer and skipper, Shoaib Malik revived the innings.
The pair worked the gaps well until Obed McCoy struck to remove Hetmyer for 24 and Nicholas Pooran (0) and swing the game back into the Zouks’ favour.
Malik, who was struck on the hand, paced his innings but was eventually stumped off of legspinner, Fawad Ahmed for 28 from 29 balls while Sherfane Rutherford departed in a similar fashion for 10.
Chris Green’s 15-ball 28 saw a late flury and a 48-run stand with Keemo Paul but it was Paul’s 22-ball 38 that propelled the Warriors to a respectable total, taking a liking to Kishmar Santokie who was struck for two fours and a six off successive balls.
Further insult was added when Paul was dropped off the next delivery, allowing him to reach his highest score in the format. A juggle from Ahmed at point ensured McCoy had his third wicket but the next delivery, the left-arm seamer had Shadab Khan playing into the hands of Perera to end with his best figures of 4-41.
In the chase, Rahkeem Cornwall was looking dangerous at the top off the order, taking five of his seven fours as well as his lone six between the third man and square leg region. However, he was trapped leg before wicket by Green for 36 from 14 balls. Green would take his 50th wicket after dismissing Andre McCarthy for seven.
Wickets continued to tumble as no partnerships could be established but Najibullah Zadran (23), Daren Sammy (18) and Santokie (15 not out) reached double figures.
Shadab Khan finished with 3-16 while Romario Shepherd and Chris Green ended with two wickets each.
