Hope, Gurbaz propels Amazon Warriors to a massive win

Sep 22, 2022 Sports

2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League…

By Sean Devers

A brilliant 103 that was laced with 10 fours and six sixes from 59 balls off the bat of Faf du Plessis, who shared in a 133-run stand with Niroshan Dickwella (36) failed to prevent the St. Lucia Kings from a triumph as they lost by six wickets to the Guyana Amazon Warriors last night at Providence.

Faf du Plessis made the second century of the 2022 Hero CPL Season, one night after the first at Providence. (Getty Images)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s half century took only 23 deliveries. (Getty Images)

Shai Hope (left) was the immovable anchor in Guyana’s chase. He shared in a 63-run partnership with the skipper, Shimron Hetmyer. (Getty Images)

The visitors posted 194-5, the highest total in the 2022 CPL Season, equalling that made by Barbados Royals against TKR in St Lucia.

Shakib Al Hassan had 2-33 for the Warriors, who reached 195-4 in reply, after being set up with a marvellous 81-run opening stand in 8.2 overs between 20-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The Afghan struck seven fours and two sixes from 26 balls in a pugnacious 52 while Chanderpaul Hemraj made 29 with five fours.

Skipper Shimron Hetmyer was cautious for his score of 36 that included two fours and a six while Shai Hope, who made 60 on Wednesday evening, stroked a classy unbeaten 59 which had two fours and five sixes included.

Earlier, Kings opted to bat and quickly lost Mark Deyal for a duck in the first over as Romario Shepherd conceded just two runs to bring Dickwella to the crease.

Du Plessis dominated the second wicket stand hitting four boundaries in the third over from Shepherd which cost 17 and went after all of the bowlers with utter disdain.

The South African thumped Shakib for a four and six in the fifth over, before he smashed Smith’s free hit for a six. Kings were very aggressive in the power-play which produced 62 runs.

Du Plessis reached his 50 in 29 balls with eight fours and two sixes at the time the team’s 100 was posted in the 11^th over.

Dickwella, who played the supporting role, was dismissed by 43-year-old Imran Tahir at 133-2 in 13.4 overs which prompted his celebratory run towards another large and vocal crowd.

Adam Hose (1) was stumped off Shakib at 136-3 before du Plessis hit Tahir for his sixth six to post his fourth T20 ton from 56 balls.

Shakib removed David Wiese (12) to leave the Kings on 157-4 before Odean Smith bowled the centurion at 159-5 as the Warriors fought back to limit the Kings to a sub 200 total.

Roston Chase (17) and Roshan Primus (11) added 34 from 18 balls as the Kings reached what seemed a very challenging score.

The chase…

When the Warriors began their chase, the partisan crowd which included President Dr Irfaan Ali and Sport Minister Charles Ramson, cheered every shot.

Gurbaz stroked three fours off Matthew Ford while Hemraj elegantly cut a short ball from Chase for four before the former deposited him for two more boundaries.

The openers were off to a rollicking start as they galloped to 71 at the end of the power-play; the most by the Warriors for the season. It was carnage at Providence and the fans were loving it.

Gurbaz reached his fifty from 23 balls while Hemraj kept on the gas at the other end. But with the score on 82, Hemraj was bowled by Chase to end an entertaining knock of 29 from 20 balls.

Shai Hope joined Gurbaz and the pair took the score to 87 before Gurbaz was removed by Deyal. Deyal then bowled Shakib for his second duck in two nights in the same over as the Warriors slipped to 85-3 in 8.2 overs.

Hetmyer got going with a boundary as dancing and flags continued to be waved but when well set, he played an irresponsible shot and was removed by Alzarri Joseph.

Hope and Shepherd (10) saw Guyana home as they moved to seven points with the victory and out of the cellar. Warriors will play TKR, who share the same amount of points on the table, on Saturday from 19:00 hrs at the same venue.

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