CPL 2025: Shah’s last-over heroics seal 5-run win for Patriots

Bursting under pressure, a sombre silence blanketed the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Sunday night as the hosts, Guyana Amazon Warriors, slumped to their third loss of the 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season.
Winning the toss and electing to bowl first for the second game on the trot, the Amazon Warriors did well to restrict their opposition, but fell agonisingly short in a nail-biting chase
Gudakesh Motie, save for his last over, was again a key component for the Amazon Warriors’ bowling attack. However, his early brilliance was overshadowed by a gritty innings from Mohamed Rizwan who displayed his international class at the Providence Stadium.
Dwaine Pretorius had a dream start to the innings, conceding just two runs in the first over. Motie came into the attack surprisingly early, serving up the second over and though he was dispatched over the ropes by Andre Fletcher for a maximum, the Berbician had his revenge two balls later as Shimron Hetmyer took a textbook catch on the boundary.

Another simple catch went the way of Hassan Khan in the fourth over as Romario Shepherd accounted for Kyle Mayers before he could get comfortable.
The Amazon Warriors found themselves on a hot streak with Leniko Butcher heading back to the dugout in the fifth over after miscuing his shot.
At 26-3 in the fifth over, the Patriots were in a spot of bother and unfortunately, the Amazon Warriors were unable to keep the noose around their opponents’ neck.
Instead, Rizwan stepped up to find the boundary ropes at regular intervals to keep the Patriots’ scorecard ticking.
At the other end, South African international Rilee Rossouw struggled to get the ball away, a situation which culminated in him trying to launch the ball down the ground, but eventually finding the safe hands of Shamar Brooks, who had to sprint up from the long-on boundary to take a stunner.
Jason Holder’s stay at the crease was short- lived, but Rizwan finally found the perfect second fiddle in Navin Bidaisee.
Rizwan slammed eight fours and three sixes in his excellent 85 off 63 deliveries before becoming the victim of a cheeky run-out in the 20th over and likely injuring himself in the process. But, the damage was already done and the Amazon Warriors would find themselves chasing a 150-run score for the second consecutive night, after starting well with the ball.
Bidaisee was unbeaten with an almost run-a-ball 22 as the Patriots got to 149-6 in their 20 overs.
After a 17-run last over, Motie ended with 2-44 from his four while Khan also picked up two wickets for 21 runs in the same number of overs.
Chasing 150 for victory at a required rate of 7.50, the Guyana Amazon Warriors opted for a fresh opening combination in Ben McDermott and Moeen Ali. The pair gave the hosts a steady start, adding 38 runs before Ali was dismissed for a run-a-ball 19, bowled by Waqar Salamkheil. With the required rate well under control, the Warriors closed the powerplay comfortably placed at 41 for 1.
After another promising start, McDermott’s innings ended on 21 from 18 balls when he was stumped by Rizwan, giving Ashmead Nedd his first wicket of the night. Local favourite Hetmyer could not make an impact either, as he attempted to clear the boundary only to inside-edge the ball onto his stumps for 9, handing Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah his first breakthrough. With Khan joining the in-form Shai Hope at the crease, the Amazon Warriors were left needing 83 runs from the final 60 deliveries.

The pair steadied the chase with a 34-run stand before Khan was dismissed for 11 off 9 balls, chipping a simple return catch to Dominic Drakes. Soon after, the Patriots struck a major blow when leg-spinner Bidaisee produced a beauty to bowl the talismanic Hope, who had made a composed 31 from 27 deliveries. With two new batters now at the crease and the Warriors wobbling at 96 for 5, the Patriots suddenly sensed an opening.
Disciplined bowling from the Patriots tightened the screws on the hosts, leaving the Amazon Warriors needing 41 runs from the final 24 deliveries. This time, there were no heroics from Pretorius, as he mistimed a lofted shot and Mayers held on to the catch. Romario Shepherd survived a scare soon after, with a caught-behind appeal turned down and the Patriots opting not to review. Shepherd and Keemo Paul briefly lifted spirits with a towering six apiece, trimming the target to 26 from 12 balls. But Holder delivered a crucial blow, removing Shepherd for 8 and silencing the Providence crowd.
Quentin Sampson gave the Warriors late hope, striking two crisp fours to bring the equation down to 11 from the final six balls. But Naseem Shah held his nerve under pressure, removing Paul with the first delivery to swing momentum back to the Patriots. Motie managed a single off the next ball, before Sampson collected a brace from the fourth delivery. Shah followed up with a dot, leaving the Warriors needing 8 from 2. Sampson scrambled two more down the ground, setting up a last-ball thriller with six required. Shah, however, was unshakable, firing in a perfect yorker to seal a tense five-run win for the Patriots.
The Republic Bank CPL will take a two-day break before the action resumes at the Guyana National Stadium on Wednesday, September 10, where the hosts Amazon Warriors will do battle with the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons from 19:00h.