ExxonMobil GSL 2026 – Unicorns demolish Vipers to set up finale with GAW tonight

By Gerald Montfort

At the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, with a place in the final on the line, the Desert Vipers locked horns with the San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) in the qualifier of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL). After winning the toss, the Unicorns elected to field first and were rewarded with a disciplined bowling performance that restricted the Vipers to 122 for seven from their allotted 20 overs.
The Vipers suffered an early setback after just 2.4 overs when wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous was dismissed for eight, giving Fabian Allen his first wicket of the evening. The pressure continued to mount as the in-form Rilee Rossouw, who had been one of the tournament’s standout performers, failed to make an impact. Rossouw was caught at cover for a brisk 11 from seven deliveries off the bowling of Anirudh Immanuel, leaving the Vipers struggling at 30 for two at the end of the powerplay.
With runs proving difficult to come by, young batter Zachary Carter attempted to accelerate the scoring, but couldn’t find his rhythm. He eventually holed out to Tim Robinson after scoring 15 from 23 balls, an innings that included just one boundary. At the halfway stage of the innings, the Vipers were in trouble at 46 for three.

Experienced all-rounder Kyle Mayers looked to provide some impetus but managed only 15 from 17 deliveries before being caught at deep cover, handing SFU Captain Hassan Khan his only wicket of the match. Khan was outstanding with the ball, returning economical figures of one for 14 from his four overs, at an impressive rate of 3.50.
Allen continued his outstanding spell by removing Shadab Khan, who struggled to 14 from 24 balls before being caught at long-off. He then added another wicket when Bevon Jacobs, after making 15 from 12 deliveries, also found a fielder in the deep, reducing the Vipers to 81 for six.
The Vipers eventually brought up the 100-run mark in the 17th over, but another setback followed when Khary Pierre was run out for eight, leaving the score at 102 for seven.
A late counterattack from Vriitya Aravind provided the Vipers with some respectability. The wicketkeeper-batter struck five boundaries in an unbeaten 29 from 20 balls, including 13 runs off the final over, as the Vipers closed on 122 for seven, setting SFU a modest target in their pursuit of a place in the tournament final.
Chasing 123, the Unicorns made a steady start before Khary Pierre injected life into the contest with two quick wickets. Connor Esterhuizen was bowled for 17 from 10 deliveries, while SFU Captain Hassan Khan departed for a second-ball duck after edging behind, reducing his side to 41 for two at the end of the powerplay.
Despite the double breakthrough, the Vipers were unable to build sustained pressure as Tim Robinson and Oliver Peake combined in a match-defining partnership. The pair settled quickly, rotating the strike effectively while punishing any loose deliveries, frustrating the Vipers’ bowling attack.
By the halfway stage of the innings, the Unicorns had advanced to 78 for two, with Robinson and Peake firmly in control. Their excellent understanding between the wickets, coupled with clean ball-striking, steadily took the game away from the Vipers, whose bowlers struggled to find a breakthrough.
Current tournament leading run-scorer Robinson continued his outstanding form, bringing up a well-crafted half-century in style with a powerful slog sweep for six during the 15th over. He anchored the chase superbly, finishing unbeaten on 68 from 54 balls, an innings featuring eight fours and one six at a strike rate of 125.92.
Peake provided the ideal support at the other end, contributing an unbeaten 33 from 31 deliveries as the pair shared an unbroken 97-run stand for the third wicket. The partnership was the highest for any wicket in the 2026 edition of the Global Super League and effectively sealed the result.
The Unicorns reached 126 for two in just 16.1 overs to complete an emphatic eight-wicket victory and book their place in the championship match.
The ExxonMobil Guyana GSL reaches its climax today when defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors take on SFU in the final, bowling off at 19:00h at the Guyana National Stadium.