Amazon Warriors secure playoff spot with Providence thriller

The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw a re-run of last year’s final as Guyana Amazon Warriors took on Saint Lucia Kings at Providence Stadium.

The Warriors were left needing 12 off the final over, in a tightly fought high-scoring contest, with Kings skipper David Wiese shouldering the responsibility for his side with the ball. A free hit for a waist high full toss wasn’t what the doctor ordered but Moeen Ali couldn’t fully capitalise with just a single to extra cover the result.

A delay to fix the stumps at the non-striker’s end ramped up the tension even more and those same stumps were then splattered by a bullet throw from substitute fielder Shadrack Descarte which saw Moeen Ali short of his ground and run out.

With four to win off the final ball, Dwaine Pretorious showed he had ice in his veins by dispatching a six over long on to seal the win for the Warriors by two wickets and book his side a place in the playoffs whilst breaking the hearts of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots who now miss out.

Earlier, Wiese won the toss and elected to bat first, the in-form Tim Seifert top edging a slog sweep to Hassan Khan off Gudakesh Motie in the second over was not the start the reigning champions were after. Fellow opener Johnson Charles then fell for a run a ball 16 to leave the Kings 27-2.

Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase then combined to get the Kings to a more than healthy score of 185/4, Chase finishing unbeaten on 90 off 55 balls with five sixes and six fours. Dwaine Pretorious was the pick of the Warriors bowlers with 2/36 off his four overs.

Quentin Sampson took the charge to the Kings in Warriors’ response, a 39 ball 76 helped his side to stay in contention and Shai Hope was in the runs once more with a well compiled 44 off 34 deliveries. The match boiling down to a final ball thriller that saw the Warriors exact revenge on the Kings and keep their tournament hopes alive into the final week. (cplt20.com)