CPL 2022: 1st win for Amazon Warriors, as Klaasen shines

– Charles’s unbeaten 87 for Kings in vain

By Brandon Corlette in St Lucia

A top-notch half-century from South African wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen and an all-round effort from Keemo Paul ensured the Guyana Amazon Warriors recorded their first win of the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League, in match 13, played at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.
The Warriors defeated St Lucia Kings by six wickets, ending on 162-4 in 18.2 overs, while replying to Kings 161-7 from 20 overs.

Klaasen starred with an unbeaten 61 from 46 balls in an innings that included three sixes and two fours.
In the chase, Warriors lost both openers in the powerplay, but Chandrapaul Hemraj showed promise in hitting four boundaries off the young Matthew Forde in one over. Hemraj, who made 23 from 15 balls, was dismissed at 37-1, but Shai Hope, on the other hand, took boundaries off Roston Chase, even though he made only 11, as he offered a return catch to Jeavor Royal.
At the powerplay, Warriors were 45-2, and a solid partnership was required.
Shimron Hetmyer and Henrich Klaasen did exactly what the doctor ordered with a 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Hetmyer smashed two sixes and a four in his 32 from 21 balls, but he held out to long-on.
Paul and Klaasen ensured no further hiccups, as Warriors claimed a solid win, heading to the Trinidad leg of the tournament next week. For Kings, Royal had 2-17 from three overs, but he suffered an injury and left the field.
A slight rain delay came at 98-3 rain before Hetmyer fell at 112-4 in 13.5 overs. Klaasen continued to be the shining light for Warriors, and he was joined by Keemo Paul. He reached his fifty from 40 balls, with a six over mid-wicket against David Wiese, and at that stage, Warriors required 25 from 23 balls.
Colin Ingram, playing his first game of the season, was removed by left-arm spinner Royal at 46-3.
Earlier, the Warriors won the toss and elected to field first, making one change, Paul Stirling out and Colin Ingram in. Kings had opted to open the batting with skipper Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles. The dynamic duo added 93 runs, blazing the Amazon Warriors bowlers to all parts of the field. Faf made a 20-ball 31, an innings decorated with four sixes.
It was his fellow South African Tabriz Shamsi who shattered his stumps, and celebrated by dialling a call. Niroshan Dickwella came and went for one, and Shamsi was on a roll. Mark Deyal was then bowled by Motie, as Warriors felt some fresh air for a moment.
Despite those wickets falling, Charles continued to dominate, entertaining his family and friends at home. Earlier, Charles and Faf took Gudakesh Motie to the cleaners, taking 25 runs of the final over of the powerplay, an over that included four maximums.

The pugnacious Charles reached his fifty from 27 balls, bringing the packed Johnson Charles stand to its feet. Roston Chase laboured for his six from 15 balls, but Charles stood firm. After the opening stand, only Tim David came and showed aggression, as he made 23 from 17 balls, an innings with two sixes and one four.
Charles ended unbeaten on 87 from 59 balls, a top knock that was decorated with five sixes and six fours. The Kings innings was split into two halves literally, scoring 99 runs in the first ten overs, and managing only 62 runs in the other ten overs. While Romario Shepherd did not bowl in the final stages, he ended with 0-19 in three overs, but it was Keemo Paul who did the death bowling and ended with 2-27 in three overs. The ace spinner Shamsi was the star for Warriors, with 2-14 from four brilliant overs.
The CPL continues today with Jamaica Tallawahs taking on Barbados Royals from 10:00h in a top-of-the-table clash, while St Lucia Kings will play St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from 19:00h.
The Amazon Warriors would be in action on Wednesday, September 14, against Trinbago Knight Riders from 19:00h at Queen’s Park Oval.