CPL 2022: Hot streak continues as Amazon Warriors win 4 in 4 on home turf

– Shakib shines again

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their red-hot form at home, recording a comprehensive five-wicket win against table leaders Barbados Royals in Match 30 of the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

A collective bowling effort from the Warriors restricted Royals to 125 all out in 17.3 overs, while Shakib Al Hasan showed his class, scoring an impressive 53 as Warriors ended victorious on 126-5 in 14.3 overs.
In the chase, Warriors lost Chandrapaul Hemraj for a five-ball duck, when he drove Kyle Mayers into the hands of short cover, at 1-1. Shai Hope played some pleasing shots in his 16 from 12 balls, an innings that had two fours and one six, but he was trapped at the crease by the consistent Jason Holder.

Shakib joined Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and the duo dug deep and battled. The Bangladeshi all-rounder, who came to the crease at 18-2 in 3.4 overs, settled the nerves at Providence with his maturity. Warriors reached 43-2 in the powerplay. Left-arm seamer Ramon Simmonds was taken to the cleaners by Shakib, and the 10th over yielded 23 runs. The packed Providence Stadium, which was again graced with the presence of the President of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali, cheered away as Warriors inched towards victory.
The left-handed Shakib reached his fifty in 27 balls with a slash over backward point for six off Holder, and that was lights out for the Royals. Shakib eventually held out in the deep for his 30-ball 53, a dominant innings that included five fours and three sixes.
Captain Shimron Hetmyer came and slammed 10 runs in five balls, but he played across the line and was trapped by Mujeeb at 104-7 in 11.5 overs. The usual dasher, Gurbaz, who made 22 from 25 balls, played the anchor role while Keemo Paul came and added the icing to the cake. Obed McCoy had 2-23 for Royals in a losing effort.
Earlier, an unchanged Amazon Warriors won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch that was used for the first time this season. Royals lost the big fish of Mayers when he skied one off Romario Shepherd for a golden duck. It was only the fourth ball of the innings when Mayers departed and run scoring proved difficult for the Royals.
Paul, bowling from the media center end, removed Rahkeem Cornwall for two when he was caught by Gudakesh Motie at 2-2. Paul continued to fire and he destroyed the stumps of Harry Tector for five, and Royals were reeling at 8-3.
Azam Khan and Holder then attempted to drop anchor, adding 51 runs for the fourth wicket. Khan was run out for a 24-ball 20, which included two sixes. The Afghanistan player, Najibullah Zadran was out for a golden duck when he chopped on one from Odean Smith. While Holder continued to gather singles and the odd boundary, he watched Devon Thomas (06) fall to Smith at 77-6 after 13 overs.
Holder eventually fell to the veteran Imran Tahir, who began his run for glory. The big Barbadian found Paul at long-on and departed for a 39-ball 42, a top score that included three sixes and one four.
When Holder departed at 83-7, Royals were looking at being bundled out for less than 100. Joshua Bishop fended one from Shepherd and was caught behind for a duck, and McCoy was bowled by Shepherd at 97-9 in 14.4 overs. McCoy had driven Shepherd for an elegant four, and slammed him for a six in consecutive balls. The next ball, Shepherd destroyed his stumps.
Smith continued to give extras, leaking 18 runs in the 16th over. The last pair of Ramon Simmonds and Mujeeb Ur Rahman offered some resistance, adding 28 runs together. Mujeeb was eventually caught by Paul, giving Shakib his first wicket of the night. A few dropped catches in the field and that killer instinct at the end, which was lacking from the Warriors, helped Royals reach 125 all out in 17.3 overs.
Shepherd claimed 3-14 in three overs while Paul had 2-9 in two overs. Smith was expensive, bowling four overs for 42 runs, but picking up two wickets. The CPL continues on Tuesday with Warriors taking on Royals in the first match at 10:00h while St Lucia Kings and Jamaica Tallawahs will play the evening game at 19:00h.