Exxon Mobil Guyana GSL T20: Shah, Islam help Rangpur script 15-run win over Warriors

Tensions at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence were at an all-time high on Wednesday night when the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) T20 continued with a nail-biting clash between the local franchise Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and Bangladesh’s Rangpur Riders.
It was a game of two halves, with both teams experiencing highs and lows but in the end, the Bangladeshi visitors were able to stifle the locals just enough to eke out a 15-run victory.
Many found the Rangpur Riders’ decision to bat first curious, especially considering the way the wicket played in games prior. Then, when the Amazon Warriors had reduced their opponents to five down, inside of six overs, Rangpurs’ decision appeared glaringly obtuse, but the tides would turn as the contest unfolded.

The Guyana National Stadium erupted in cheers the moment the Amazon Warriors bowling unit began their work as Dwaine Pretorius shattered Steven Taylor’s stumps with the first ball of the innings.
After being smashed for a pair of boundaries, four balls later, Pretorius would find favour again, castling Saif Hassan for eight from four deliveries.
With a spot in the GSL T20 on the line, the hosts looked like a team intent on bagging a big win, evident by their superb bowling.

In the second over, Tanzim Hasan Sakib cleaned up Soumya Sarkar for 2 and in the following rotation delivered by Pretorius, Wayne Madden went on his way, driving a soft shot straight into the hands of Keemo Paul, who had just returned from injury.
No questions asked, the Rangpur Riders were reeling at 14-4. Then, Captain Imran Tahir found favour with the bowling gods, removing Mahedi Hasanin in the seventh over to leave the visitors 27-5.
However, the Amazon Warriors failed to inflict the death blow, allowing Khushdil Shah to get familiar with the tricky surface out in the middle at Providence. Alongside Nurul Hasan, who was patient enough to play the supporting role, Shah managed to dig the Rangpur Riders out of the hole with a classy and well-deserved half-century that encompassed two fours and four sixes.

As Amazon Warriors Captain Tahir chopped and changed his bowlers, looking for a solution to the problem in the form of Shah, he finally found his answer in Sakib, but one might say it was a little too late.
Shah perished for 58 from 47 deliveries, but his job was done as the Rangpur Riders were already approaching the 100-run mark.
Hasan got to 15 from 26 before perishing while Rishad Hossain and Harmeet Singh added 10 and 11 runs respectively to get the Rangpur Riders to 117 before finally being bowled out in exactly 20 overs.
Pretorius had the best figures on the Amazon Warriors’ sheet with 3-15 from 4 overs while Sakib, Tahir and Gudakesh Motie all claimed one wicket each.
The target was a small one for the Amazon Warriors, but the beginning of their innings followed an almost identical script, with the Warriors finding themselves 27-5 at one point also.

The first over of the innings went by quietly, featuring one boundary, but the second over, served up by Kamrul Islam Rabbi ,was menacing for the hosts. First, Pretorius, who surprisingly came out to open the batting alongside Moeen Ali, was trapped lbw. Two balls later, Ali was caught behind and in the subsequent delivery, Shimron Hetmyer had his leg stump disturbed by the ball.
Roston Chase was the victim of a well-timed catch inside the circle, while Hassan Khan was short of his ground attempting a single. Half of the Amazon Warriors were back in the dugout, but they still had Hope, literally and figuratively.
Shai Hope held one end of the pitch while Gudakesh Motie showcased all his know-how with the bat for a valuable 15 off 23 balls. When their 36-run partnership was broken by Mahedi Hasan, Keemo Paul came to the crease.
Paul looked intent from ball one and even found himself in a short spat with Hasan a few balls later. One glorious six later, which was dispatched into the Red Stand, Paul chopped the ball onto his stumps, perishing for 18 from 12, but still having the healthiest strike rate on the Amazon Warriors’ scorecard.
Try as Romario Shepherd did, his attempt at a golden flourish at the end went in vain, leaving the local franchise 15 short of their target and without a sure spot in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) final.
The tournament continues today with a double-header, which will ultimately decide Friday evening’s finalists.
At 10:00h, Hampshire Hawks will take on Cricket Victoria, while at 19:00h, Rangpur Riders will head into battle again against the Lahore Qalandars.