Guyana Amazon Warriors 99/1 (Ayub 52*, Hope 32*; Hosein 1/21) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 94 all out (Carty 38, Deyal 16; Pretorius 4/26, Motie 2/7) by 9 wickets
IN their sixth appearance in the finals, the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) win their first Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title before their adoring fans at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
Sending in four-time champs Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) to bat after winning the toss, GAW 44-year-old captain was in tears after the victory.
He said, “Look, it’s beautiful. It’s been a great experience, been playing for this beautiful franchise and for these beautiful people who always come and support us. I am just really grateful to (the) almighty.
“Coming into the competition, I think everyone sending jokes that I become a captain so I think actually those things motivated me so I actually wanna thank to people who said that.
“And also I want to thank to my family and all the players’ families. They have been on the road with us. It’s been a great journey, a very special journey.”
GAW produced a disciplined performance to bowl the TKR out for just 94. Imran Tahir and Gudakesh Motie produced valuable economical spells, while Dwaine Pretorius took four wickets.
It was a nervy chase from the GAW in front of a home crowd as the TKR tried to restrict runs with spin, however, Saim Ayub and Shai Hope, the two leading run scorers in CPL this season, would ultimately see the team over the line, winning by nine wickets.
Despite a 24-run opening stand between Chadwick Walton and Mark Deyal, TKR lost wickets at regular intervals, with three falling to seam bowling in the powerplay, including key batsman Nicholas Pooran.
Captain Kieron Pollard would fall straight after the powerplay, as spin began to play a vital role, with Motie and Tahir causing havoc, taking a combined four wickets between them and conceding just 15 runs in total. Keacy Carty would attempt to lead the resistance for TKR, but as he ran out of partners he found himself taking more risks, eventually falling to a brilliant Shimron Hetmyer catch. TKR would finish 94 all out.
GAW lost the early wicket of Keemo Paul, who was opening, which added tension to their chase. TKR would deploy both Akeal Hosein and Sunil Narine in the powerplay in an attempt to prise more wickets, but the GAW would end the powerplay on 29-1.
Saim Ayub and Shai Hope would show the form that has led to them leading the run scoring charts this season, combining to take the Amazon Warriors to victory, Ayub bringing up his half-century with a six from the last ball of the chase, to take the Warriors to a maiden CPL title win.
