The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) have maintained their supreme record over arch-rivals Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) with a six-wicket win at a packed Guyana National Stadium at Providence on Saturday evening.
In this top-of-the-table clash, a preview for next week’s first qualifier, TKR rested six big names and still posted 176-8, with Keacy Carty scoring 83 from 49 balls, while all the other TKR batsmen produced a combined score of 82 off 71 balls. In reply, Warriors reached 177-4 in 18.2 overs.
In the Warriors chase, Odean Smith was promoted to open with run machine Saim Ayub. The duo took Warriors to 56 without loss in the powerplay, with Ayub playing beautiful shots all around the stadium. However, the pocket-rocket was the first to be dismissed, for a shot-filled 37 from 24 balls in an innings laced with five fours and two sixes.
Shai Hope came to the crease with Warriors on 56-1 after 6.2 overs, and Smith, who was dropped four times, powered his way to a 32-ball 44. His innings had three sixes and four fours. After Smith had done the damage in the 61-run stand with Hope, the Warriors were at 117-2 in 12.4 overs.
Homeboy Shimron Hetmyer’s stay at the crease was a brief one, with him being caught at cover off part-time bowler Mark Deyal for two.
Azam Khan came to the crease at 126-3, and he got off the mark with a boundary off the first ball he faced. The packed Providence stadium was rocking to the good vibes while the TKR fielding was poor. Hope reached yet another fifty, this time in 33 balls, to help Warriors secure another solid win.
Hope ended on 54 from 37 balls in an innings laced with three sixes and two fours.
The Warriors had earlier won the toss and opted to bowl first. Matthew Nandu was the only change for the Warriors, with Junior Sinclair returning to the starting XI. CPL had also announced, prior to the game, that Kevin Sinclair has left the CPL this season for personal reasons.
TKR made six big changes, resting their top guns Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Ali Khan, Waqar Salamkheil and Lorcan Tucker. Junior Sinclair made an important breakthrough when he ran out Martin Guptill (01) with a direct hit, reducing TKR to 5-1 in the second over.
Mark Deyal was going all guns blazing as he struck eight fours. He played a poor shot and was caught at the wicket off Keemo Paul with the TKR score at 46-2 in 4.5 overs.
TKR were 49-2 at the powerplay, when Keacy Carty joined Chadwick Walton – a former Guyana Amazon Warrior who looked at home at Providence while Carty was finding his groove. At the half-way stage, TKR were 73-2, and Walton and Carty took TKR to safety with a 59-run partnership. Walton made 25 from 27 balls, while Carty stepped on the gas. In the process, Warriors lost Paul, who pulled up with an injury and left the field.
Carty, playing his first game for TKR, and his second game in T20 cricket, went to stroke seven classy fours and four sweet sixes in his 49-ball 83.
Captain Pollard was trapped for nine by Romario Shepherd, and thereafter TKR lost six wickets for 67 runs, while Odean Smith went for 50 runs in three wicket-less overs. Tahir was virtually unplayable with 3-12 from his four overs, as TKR posted 176-8 in 20 overs.
The Warriors will return to action today, Sunday September 17, from 19:00h against Barbados Royals at Providence. (GTimes)