Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) outplayed the Jamaica Tallawahs in a comfortable 77-run victory at the National Stadium Providence. GAW continued their record breaking season with nine wins in as many matches. Shoaib Malik led the way with an unbeaten 73 while the spinners shared eight wickets in 15.3 overs that leaked only 75 runs.
Tallawahs rocks GAW top order
In what is considered a dead rubber but an important match for the GAW as they look to take that momentum forward, GAW batting line-up was tested. Oshane Thomas and Derval Green were on a roll as the hosts were reduced to 8-4. In the fifth ball of the innings, Thomas generated some good pace and destroyed the stumps of Brandon King and the very next ball, Shimron Hetmyer was sent back for a golden duck.
Chris Green (L), Imran Tahir (C) and Qais Ahmad (R) celebrate the dismissal of Chris Gayle
Steaming in at 143.5kph Thomas angled one away but the ball missed the outside edge but Hetmyer was unlucky. Green bowling the second over for Tallawahs, struck gold with his first ball, shattering the stumps of Chandrapaul Hemraj who also walked back for a golden duck.
The fourth wicket in the space of four balls came when Green trapped Pooran with an in swinger at the crease. After two overs two overs of misery for GAW, Thomas continued to clock in at over 90 miles per over but Sherfane Rutherford and Shoaib Malik revived the innings.
Keemo Paul hits 6 during match 29 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League
Malik, Rutherford to the rescue
The dynamic duo came and eased the tense nerves at Providence with a big 82-run partnership. Rutherford played his shots in a selective manner; piercing the gaps presented. His innings was defined by the gentle push off Steven Jacobs; a sweet inside-out six over extra cover. He welcomed Khan with a reverse sweep that went for four. Malik was at his elegant best, rotating the strike and conquering the spinners.
Rutherford innings of 45 from 43 balls came to a close when local boy Trevon Griffith took a stunning catch in the deep. The Enmore bound lad hit five fours and one six in a well-constructed innings. With the score on 90-5, Malik lost Chris Green for two and the GAW were reduced to 93-6 after 13.5 overs. Malik reached his half-century in 35 balls after shifting gears in the 16th over, smashing Dwayne Smith for a six and a four. Malik continued to show his class and taking Thomas to the cleaners in the 19th over that yielded 26 runs. It was Malik and Keemo Paul who came to the part and hit some lusty blows as GAW surpassed the 150-run mark.
Sherfane Rutherford (R) and Shoaib Malik (L) of Guyana Amazon Warriors during their 81-run partnership
Green bowled a good final over that cost only seven runs but Malik unbeaten innings of 73 which was decorated with five fours and two sixes ensured GAW recovered well. Paul contributed 18 from 20 balls in the unbroken 63-run partnership. Bowling for Tallawahs, Green had 2-23 while Thomas ended with 2-40. The spinners in Imran Khan and Zahir Khan were economical in the process as GAW ended on 156-6 in 20 overs.
Spinners, Paul strangles Tallawahs
The fans at Providence erupted when Green produced the perfect ball to sneak pass the defense of Chris Gayle. Green destroyed the stumps of Universe Boss while Imran Tahir, in the third over, removed Chadwick Walton. Tallawahs were 16-2 and captain Malik continued to throw the ball to the spinners.
Derval Green (C), Chris Gayle (L) and Glenn Phillips (R) celebrates the dismissal of Chanderpaul Hemraj
After the power play, Tallawahs ere 26-2 with the tournament’s leading run scorer, Glenn Phillips attempting to rebuild the innings. The spinners strangled the visitors; after Phillips was dismissed for 21 by the disciplined Hemraj. Griffith came and went for a run-a-ball 11; he was undone by Tahir who produced a ripper to trap him leg-before. Three wickets then fell at 67; Smith succumbed to the jumping Qais Ahmad, Imran Khan followed suit the very next ball. The last hope for Tallawahs came to an end when Liton Das, who was dropped by Keemo Paul fell to the same bowler.
Paul‘s first over was written with brilliance all over it, taking two wickets. Tahir picked up his third wicket when he destroyed Jacobs furniture. Malik added the finishing touches removing Zahir Khan as Tallawahs fell for 79 all out. Tahir ended with 3-12, Paul had 2-2, and Ahmad had 2-20 in a dominant bowling effort.
GAW set to battle TKR tonight
After defeating the TKR by 19 runs in their first outing of the 2019 season, GAW will meet the defending champions tonight Friday October 4 from 20:00h. TKR has lost five matches and they will be looking to bounce back after their loss against Tridents.
