By Brandon Corlette
Guyana’s Shimron Hetmyer displayed consistency with the bat as Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) registered a 3-wicket victory over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their second match of the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League.
Aside from Hetmyer’s fireworks of 71 from 44 balls, Keemo Paul was impressive with the ball, earlier claiming 4-19, the best ever figures in T20 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, to restrict Patriots to 127-8 in 20 overs.
Earlier, an unchanged GAW won the toss and elected to bowl first. Captain Chris Green placed himself in the furnace of the power hitters in Evin Lewis and Chris Lynn, but the dynamic Patriots’ duo added only 17 runs for the first wicket.
With better tactics being showed by Green, Imran Tahir came into the proceedings early, bowling in the power play, and struck gold with his first ball, sending Lynn back to the hut for 16. Evin Lewis, who was dropped early on, looked in fine touch and took the bowling apart in the powerplay.
Patriots reached 54-2 in the first six overs, but the wicket of the dangerous Lewis in the sixth over saw the Patriots crumble. Lewis, who made a shot-filled 30 from 18 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes, was undone by a brilliant piece of glovework from Nicholas Pooran, after Green pushed one wide.
With Warriors continuing to pick up wickets at regular intervals, Nick Kelly came and went for five, becoming the first of Paul’s four victims; while the rusty Denesh Ramdin made nine and fell to the same bowler.
With rising star Joshua Da Silva being axed from this match, the Patriots’ batting line-up was found wanting. Ben Bunk tried to rebuild the innings, but lacked support. At 78-4 in 10.2 overs, the task was an uphill one for Dunk.
Jahmar Hamilton again looked clueless against wrist spin. He became Tahir’s first wicket when he was trapped in front for two as the Warriors tightened their grip on the match.
At 111-6, Rayad Emrit fell to the probing Paul for 17, and by then all hope had been lost for the Patriots to post a significant total.
Dunk departed for 29, while Paul was the star with the ball, ending with 4-19 in four overs. His efforts were backed up by the veteran leggie Imran Tahir who claimed 2-18. Patriots ended with 127-8 when the 20 overs expired.
In the Warriors’ chase, Brandon King showed his royal touch early on when he struck two crisp boundaries; but the impressive Sheldon Cottrell had the final say, as King went to the hut for 10. A consistent Hetmyer came to the crease, and joined forces with Chandrapaul Hemraj. Between them, they took the Warriors to 45-1 in the powerplay overs.
Hemraj ran himself out for a run-a-ball 19 when the score was at 59-2, but Hetmyer continued to entertain the virtual fans. Despite gaining some weight during the quarantine, he looked focused and continued to show his talent and class. Hetmyer took the Patriots to the cleaners and reached his second fifty in as many matches with a sweetly-timed six.
The experienced Ross Taylor was run out for nine, and Nicholas Pooran made a golden duck, playing away from his body and being caught behind.
Warriors were reduced to 96-4 in 13.1 overs, but Hetmyer continued to steady things. Sherfane Rutherford was sent packing for 10, playing across the line of an Emrit delivery; and, the very next ball, Emrit trapped Paul at the crease for a golden duck.
Warriors lost their way at the tail, and Hetmyer fell for a 44-ball 71 which was decorated with eight fours and three sixes. The match ended with Warriors on 131-7 in 17 overs, winning by seven wickets. Warriors will play their third match on Saturday at 14:15h against the Jamaica Tallawahs.