Guyana Amazon Warriors beat St Lucia Stars in nail-biting game

All-rounder Keemo Paul held his nerve in a last over thriller as the Guyana Amazon Warriors soared to their second straight win at home, beating the St Lucia Stars by 3 runs in Saturday evenings nail-biter in front another jam-packed crowd at Providence National Stadium, Guyana.

In a low-scoring match, drama unfolded in the final over with the Stars needing 16 from the last over bowled by Paul (1-42). The first ball knocked over Kavem Hodge for a duck before being going for a six the very next ball by Mitchell McClenaghan.
A few singles saw the requirement being 5 runs from one legal delivery; to which the Young Windies pacer held his nerves and produced a good last ball to help his team keeping their unbeaten streak alive. In the end, the Stars could only muster 138-7 in 20 overs.
Lendl Simmons smashed five sixes in his 45 with skipper Kieron Pollard hitting 32 in their fifty partnership which seemed like spoiling the Warriors’ fun. After missing out in the first game, New Zealander opener Luke Ronchi punched a top-score of 42 from 41 with a pair of fours and a six while his opening partner Chadwick Walton spanked a 24-ball 31. Shimron Hetmyer made a brisk 21 and got out while Jason Mohamed also produced 21, but was left unbeaten to take the Amazon warriors to 141-4 from their 20 overs.
Afghan leggy Qais Ahmad bowled like a true “Star”, snaring magical figures of 3-15 with his wide array of Googlies; bagging the big wickets of Walton, Hetmyer and Shoaib Malik, with Mark Chapman being the other wicket taker with 1-8.
Seamer Rayad Emrit grabbed 3-26 and 2-32 from South African Imran Tahir played crucial roles for their team. It was a watchful start to the chase from Andre Fletcher (14) and David Warner (11) who were forced to deal with a nippy Sohail Tanvir and a crafty Chris Green, up front.
After 5 overs the Stars were 25-0 with just three boundaries; two to Fletcher and one to Warner. The introduction of Tahir resulted in a double blow for the Stars as he removed both openers via LBW in the 7th over of the game and the first of his spell.
Pollard and his countryman Simmons, both new at the crease were tasked with rebuilding the damage done by the South African leg-spinner. With the team’s 50 up after roughly 10 overs, Pollard freed his arms against Emrit to send his countryman flying into the Orange Stand rails for six.
The duo continued to pick off the loose deliveries, some of which went over the rope and into the stands. Simmons looked like a half-century but that was cut short by Emrit five runs away from his milestone. With pressure mounting, Pollard was caught by Mohamed in the deep while Emrit disturbed the timber of Rakeem Cornwall with a yorker for 3, as Paul finished off the innings nicely.
Batting first, Warriors openers Walton and Ronchi put on a speedy 54 for the first wicket in a little under 8 overs. Walton was highly aggressive, showing glimpses of a big score which might soon come in the future. He clobbered four fours and a solitary six with precision, before being stumped by Fletcher off Ahmad.
Ronchi found the ropes a few times while an ever-improving Hetmyer reminded the Stars bowlers of his current form at Providence by racing to 21 off 19 balls with three fours; two of which were smacked of back-to back balls from Pollard.
The Kiwi raced into the 30’s by smashing medium-pacer Kesrick Williams down the ground for a six before Ahmad struck again, this time bagging the prized wicket of Hetmyer, who edged a googly to Fletcher behind the stumps.
At 87-2 Shoaib Malik (08) made his entrance by dancing down the track to loft Kavem Hodge over the ropes to pick up his first boundary but Ahmad again served up another well-delivered Googly to rock the stumps of the Warriors Captain.
Guyana Warriors reached their 100 in 13.4 overs with tons of batting left in the tank but Ronchi failed to bring up his 50 and was bowled comprehensively attempting to pull off his countryman Chapman. The left-handed Sherfane Rutherford dispatched Cornwall into the stands for a massive six as Mohamed replicated to send Williams sailing into the Red Stands.
With two wins under their belt, the Warriors will be seeking to wrap up their home games on a high note when they tackle former champs Barbados Tridents in Sunday’s final game at Providence for the first leg. The match bowls off at 18:00h.