5 times the charm as TKR crush GAW in CPL finale

The grand finale of the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) lived up to its billing, serving up a tense, low-scoring battle between the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Trinbago Knight Riders at Providence.
In a clash brimming with twists and momentum shifts, both teams had their moments under the lights, but it was the seasoned TKR unit who held their nerve in the dying stages. Led by flashes of brilliance from Kieron Pollard and a composed finish from Akeal Hosein, the Knight Riders overcame the Warriors by three wickets to capture their record-extending, fifth CPL championship.

Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and surprisingly opted to bat first, but Trinbago Knight Riders executed their short-ball plan to perfection to make the early, much-needed breakthrough.
Andre Russell was the one to strike early, removing the in-form Quentin Sampson for a duck. Ben McDermott counter-attacked with an aggressive knock, racing to 28 from 17 deliveries, but his innings was cut short when Saurabh Netravalkar had him caught by Colin Munro on the deep square-leg boundary. At the end of the power play, the Warriors found themselves on 41 for 2.

Hosein struck a crucial blow for Trinbago Knight Riders, delivering a superb ball that clipped the top of off stump to send back Shai Hope. The Warriors talisman never found his rhythm, labouring for 12 from 19 before his resistance ended. With Hope s dismissal, the Warriors lost their anchor, and the pressure only mounted. Trinbago s bowlers tightened the screws with relentless accuracy, refusing to give away easy runs. Sunil Narine was at his miserly best, even sending down a maiden over in the 10th. At the halfway mark, the Amazon Warriors had crawled to 57 for 3, struggling to build momentum against a disciplined attack.
Usman Tariq soon joined the party, finding his rhythm and knocking over Moeen Ali for a scratchy 10 off 14 deliveries. The pressure continued to mount on the Warriors as Hosein struck again, this time removing Shimron Hetmyer for just 4. With two of their senior batters back in the pavilion cheaply, Guyana Amazon Warriors were left reeling. Struggling to break free from TKR s stranglehold, they huffed and puffed their way to 84 for 5 after 15 overs. It was left to Dwaine Pretorius and Iftikhar Ahmed to steady the innings, as the pair began cautiously building a much-needed partnership.

The stand eventually came to an end when Pretorius miscued one straight to long-off, departing for a lively 25 from 18 balls. With the innings entering its final phase, the Warriors were still searching for momentum, but Ahmed kept them afloat with a determined knock. He struck three boundaries and a clean six in his 30 from 27 deliveries before falling in the last over as he attempted to accelerate further. Romario Shepherd chipped in with a useful 13 before being run out off the final ball of the innings. In the end, the Guyana Amazon Warriors closed on 130 for 8 from their allotted 20 overs, a total that looked competitive but far from commanding.

With a modest total on the board, the Amazon Warriors knew they needed early breakthroughs to stay in the contest, and Pretorius answered the call once again. The South African all-rounder struck in successive spells, first removing Munro for a brisk 23 off 15 balls, before delivering the big blow by dismissing TKR Captain Nicholas Pooran for just one. His double strike gave the Warriors the spark they were searching for, and at the end of the power play the Knight Riders found themselves at 45 for 2, the chase still very much in the balance.
Captain Imran Tahir brought himself into the attack and struck almost instantly, trapping Darren Bravo leg-before for 11 to tighten the screws on the Knight Riders. Looking to inject momentum into the chase, TKR made a tactical switch by promoting Narine up the order, hoping his attacking intent could shift the pressure back on the bowlers. At that stage, the Knight Riders were 62 for 3, with the contest delicately poised.

Narine provided a quick burst of momentum for the Knight Riders, striking two towering sixes in his 22 from 17 balls before Shamar Joseph ended his stay, leaving the score at 89 for 4 after 13 overs. The arrival of Kieron Pollard shifted the atmosphere immediately, as the TKR star stamped his authority by launching Tahir for three sixes in quick succession. However, Tahir had the last laugh, bowling Pollard for a brisk 21 off 12 deliveries. The very next ball, the veteran leg-spinner struck again, removing Andre Russell for a golden duck to send the Providence crowd into a frenzy.
At 114 for 6, the Knight Riders still needed 17 runs from the final 24 balls, with the game suddenly hanging in the balance. Joseph then delivered another crucial breakthrough, prising out the anchor of the innings, Alex Hales, who laboured to 26 off 34 balls. With tension rising, it was Hosein who held his nerve, playing a decisive cameo of 16 from just 7 deliveries to finish the job. His late flourish carried Trinbago Knight Riders to 133 for 7, sealing a dramatic victory and clinching their fifth Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League championship crown.