King’s record knock propels Warriors into final

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2019…
By Brandon Corlette

Brandon King smashed the highest individual score in the history of Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournaments to take the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) to the finale for the fifth time.

GAW downed Tridents by 30 runs, after posting 218-3, the highest T20 total at the Guyana National Stadium Providence.

All hail the King

Brandon King and Chandrapaul Hemraj continued their consistent season at the top of the order. Under clear skies, the dynamic duo rocked the packed Providence Stadium with some scintillating shots after Captain Shoaib Malik had won the toss and opted to bat first.
In the second over of the match, King smashed Jason Holder for 18 runs. He
continued to reign supreme in 2019 as he began Holder’s misery with a neat six down the ground, followed by a hat trick of fours.

Hemraj was equally up to the task. He introduced himself with a smoking slice off Raymon Reifer that went for four, and followed that up with a six over long-on three balls later.
The duo reached their fourth 50-run partnership this season after 6.1 overs, and King continued his masterclass by using his feet and smashing boundaries at ease.
After two fours and one six, Hemraj was brilliantly caught by Hayden Walsh Jr. for a 23-ball-27. Walsh pulled off the mother of all stunners by running back to take the catch off his own bowling.
Tridents got their first breakthrough when the Warriors were at 73-1, and this was the highest opening partnership by GAW. King surpassed fifty for the fourth time for this season in 36 balls with a superb shot through point.
Shimron Hetmyer, continuing his inconsistent season, found the fielder at his usual danger zone at mid-wicket and was dismissed for three.

Malik milks it, King slams maiden ton

Captain Malik partnered King, and the duo bossed the hapless Tridents’ bowling attack as they added 97 from 46 balls. King reached his maiden T20 century from 59 balls with a stylish six off Reifer. It was total carnage as King and Malik continued the onslaught with a 29-run over from world class player Shakib Al-Hasan.
After Malik had scored 32 from 17 balls, GAW were 180-3 in 18.4 overs. Nicholas Pooran partnered King and the duo ended the innings with a nine-ball 38-run partnership.

King, who played the first and final balls of the innings, ended on an unbeaten 132; which was the highest score in the history of CPL, surpassing Andre Russell’s 121 in 2018 against TKR.
King smashed 11 sixes and 10 fours; while Pooran, having smoked a six off his first ball, ended with 12 from three balls, as GAW continued to break records.
GAW have scored the highest T20 total at Providence: 218 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs. In the bowling mayhem, Hayden Walsh took 2-42 while Holder had 1-36.

Tahir on the move
Tasked with climbing a summit, Tridents’ Johnson Charles and Alex Hales added 32 runs in 4.2 overs, but ran into a roadblock named Imran Tahir.

Charles, who hit three fours in a run-a-ball 15, ended his innings when King extended his dream night by completing the catch at backward point.
‘Tahir began his search for real estate by covering the yards with his celebration, when he shattered the stumps of Hales, who scored a 19-ball 36.
After scoring 56 in the power play, the prize wicket of Shakib, who scored a nine-ball five, further slowed the Tridents’ scoring rate. Shai Hope, playing his first match of the season, was partnered by JP Duminy; and the duo added 33 runs together before Duminy dragged one onto his stumps.
In departing for 14, Duminy became Odean Smith’s first victim when the score was on 92-4 after 11.2 overs. Tahir ended his spell with 13 dot balls and two wickets for 13 runs.

Carter keeps Trident hopes alive
Hope departed for 21, but Jonathan Carter kept Tridents in the hunt with his blistering 49. The left-hander smashed three sixes and five fours before falling to Romario Shepherd.
At 151-6 after 17 overs, the task was an unlikely one for the Tridents, who ended on 188-8, with Shepherd taking his third wicket to finish the match.
GAW will await the final, slated for Saturday October 12 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. From 17:00h, Tridents will have another bite at the apple when they meet TKR in the second qualifier on Thursday October 10 from 19:00h.