Playoff is the most important clash of the season – Malik

GAW v Tridents match…

Today’s playoff match between Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and Barbados Tridents (BT) is the most important match of the season, says GAW Captain Shoaib Malik and marquee player Nicholas Pooran following the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ 10th consecutive win in CPL 2019.

A seven-wicket win is, to some, a momentous achievement, especially when it is the tenth consecutive win of a season. However, for the Guyana Amazon Warriors team, this level of excellence is only the beginning of a tougher journey.
According to both captain Shoaib Malik and marquee player Nicholas Pooran, the team’s exceptional preliminary season would mean nothing if they are to mess up at the playoff stage. As such, the Warriors will bring their A+ game against the Barbados Tridents on Sunday afternoon.

“To be honest, it’s a good feeling, but it means nothing to the team because we haven’t achieved the goal. We’re looking forward to the first playoff, and hopefully we get to the final. The main goal is winning the tournament this year; because if we don’t win it would be a shame,” Pooran noted during a post-match interview on Friday night.
Pooran was harshly realistic about his approach, but Captain Malik was subtler, as he explained the importance of today’s matchup.
“There is no over-confidence thing in our team. I guess every day is a new day, and what we have achieved of course was an exceptional thing, but that’s past now. What’s coming tomorrow we’re just focusing on that, and I think that’s the key in our dressing room. Just focus; not thinking of winning all the games or anything else, just thinking of who you’re playing against and giving it your best shot,” Malik explained.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors will come up against the Barbados Tridents in the first qualifier game, scheduled for 3.30pm at the Providence National Stadium today. Should the Warriors’ maintain their winning streak, they would automatically advance to their 5th CPL final.
In their final home game, on Friday night, the Warriors mauled the Trinbago Knight Riders by 7 wickets. Man-of-the-match Nicholas Pooran hit a careful 54 off 35 balls in an innings that had its fair share of fireworks.
He was supported by Captain Malik, who saw the game out once again, striking 28 from 29. Brandon King had laid a solid foundation at the top, with 33 from 23 before he was sent back by Jimmy Neesham.
Chandrapaul Hemraj was the pick of the Warriors’ bowlers, scalping 3-15 as he rocked the Trinidadians’ top order. Malik again chipped in with 1-10 as the GAW restricted the Trinidad side to 143-5.