A batting masterclass from one of the world’s best, Shai Hope, led the Guyana Amazon Warriors to a crushing win against Barbados Royals in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Hope’s majestic 106 from 44 balls propelled the Guyana Amazon Warriors to 226-7 in 20 overs, their highest score in CPL history and the joint highest in all T20s played at Providence. Royals managed only 138-6 as Warriors won by 88 runs.
This season also became the first time five individual centuries were scored, with four centuries scored in 2014 and 2018.
Royals’ chase was too tall, and the pressure showed early. Wickets fell at regular intervals. Rahkeem Cornwall was the first man dismissed at 16-1, as he made only six. Justin Greaves, who played some attractive shots made a run-a-ball 16, as he was outfoxed by the impressive Gudakesh Motie.
At the power play, Royals were 38-2. Imran Tahir came into the attack and the runs stopped for Royals, as he and Motie worked magic in tandem. In the ninth over, Tahir removed Rovman Powell (04) and Alick Athanaze (06), to break the back of the Royals’ chase.
Royals were 54-5 in 10 overs. Debutant Shamar Joseph, who was the first change, bowled with great steam as he produced some dot balls to Athanaze. Warriors’ bowling was impressive as Jason Holder and Rivaldo Clarke looked to rebuild.
Clarke made an unbeaten 54, but Royals managed only 138-6 in 20 overs. Tahir had 3-23 in a top spell while Motie had 2-11 in four overs.
Earlier, Barbados Royals won the toss and opted to bowl first. Guyana Amazon Warriors handed a debut to Kevlon Anderson and Shamar Joseph, who was a replacement for the injured Keemo Paul.
Warriors had a blistering start, adding 71-2 in the power play. It was an eventful start to proceedings as Saim Ayub was the first man dismissed for 16 from 13 balls. Akeem Jordan, playing his first match of the season, sent back Ayub at 35-1 in 3.1 overs. The Odean Smith experiment at the top of the order continued, and he excited the almost-packed crowd at Providence.
Smith struck three fours and one six in his 15-ball 21, but he was caught at point to give Obed McCoy his first wicket at 62-2 in 5.3 overs. Debutant Anderson walked to the crease and he looked busy. Anderson got off the mark with a boundary to third man the first ball he faced.
Warriors raced to 100 runs in nine overs, as Anderson and Hope put pressure on Royals early. Hope showed class and power as he and Anderson took Royals to the cleaners. Warriors were blazing on 104-2 in 10 overs. Hope and Anderson added 132 runs from 69 balls for the third wicket.
Hope, who reached his fifty in 23 balls, took his batting into fifth gear, when he slammed Cornwall for 32 runs in one over to go to his first CPL hundred from 41 balls.
Hope was eventually dismissed for a masterful 106 from 44 balls, an inning decorated with eight sixes and nine fours, striking at 240. He was taken in the deep by fellow Barbadian Justin Greaves, off Holder. Amazon Warriors breached the 200-run threshold in 17.4 overs.
Anderson, who displayed great fitness and running between the wickets, as did Hope, eventually fell for 47 from 39 balls, an innings laced with two fours and one six. He top-edged one to the wicket-keeper at 224-5 in 19.2 overs. Wickets fell in the end, but that brought the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer to the crease, who smacked his way to 16 from five balls, including two fours and one six.
It was carnage for the Royals men with McCoy claiming 2-36 and Holder claiming 2-50 in four overs.
Warriors ended on 226-7 in 20 overs, their highest-ever score in CPL history and the joint highest team total in all T20s at Providence. Warriors will be in action again on Wednesday, September 20 against TKR in the first Qualifier at Providence. (GTimes)