(CPL) – Andre Russell and Tim David added 60 off 26 balls to guide the Trinbago Knight Riders to a thrilling five-wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Queen’s Park Oval.
Chasing 149, the Knight Riders were 89-5 after 15, needing 60 to win off 30. It came down to 50 off 24, and Russell struck leg-spinner Nathan Sowter for three sixes to swing the game in Knight Riders favour.
Russell, dropped on zero by Junior Sinclair on the boundary off Shamar Joseph, ended on an unbeaten 36 off 15 (1×4, 4x6s), while David finished on an undefeated 31 off 24 (1×4, 2x6s).
David struck sixes off the first two balls of the last over bowled by Keemo Paul to seal the result for the home franchise.
Notably, spinners Moeen Ali (1-5) and Gudakesh Motie (0-16) bowled just two overs each.
Earlier, Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius put on an unbroken 72 off 48 balls to lift the Guyana Amazon Warriors to 148-7 in the mega clash.
That total seemed far from reality when Knight Riders had Warriors wobbling at 76-7 after 12 overs.
However, Shepherd blasted 51* off 24 (3x4s, 4x6s), and Pretorius played the supporting role with 21 not out off 25 (2x4s) as Warriors went into the break with the momentum.
Warriors’ top-order folded meekly with opener Tim Robinson with 34 off 28 (4x4s) and Moeen Ali 11 off 11 (1×4) being the other players into double-figures.
Kevin Sinclair (9), Shai Hope (5), Shimron Hetmyer (7), Keemo Paul (3), and Gudakesh Motie (5) were all dismissed cheaply.
Left-arm spinner Waqar Salamkheil took 2-19, Sunil Narine 2-24, Akeal Hosein 1-20, and Dwayne Bravo 1-41.