Poor umpiring, Brandon McCullum, spinners lead to Warriors defeat

Guyana Amazon Warriors now face an uphill task to qualify for the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) play-offs after suffering a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) on Saturday at the National Stadium, Providence.

Watched by a capacity ground, a listless Warriors were only able to post a below-par 130 for 5 which Knight Riders, led by pugnacious opener Brendon McCullum unbeaten 65 (4x4s; 4x6s) responded in blazing fashion with 131 for 3 in 15.5 overs, condemning the three-time finalist to their fifth loss in six matches and a strong possibility of finishing outside the top four for the first time.
Defending the paltry total Veerasammy Permaul got the early wicket of Sunil Narine caught at long-on before he could inflict any serious damage. After some questionable umpiring decisions, Sohail Tanveer had Colin Munro’s bails flying with a delivery that beat the inside-edge and Warriors were up and running.
Trump card leg spinner Rashid Khan drew McCullum forward when he was on 21 by getting the ball to dip and inducing an edge that was put down by wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton which would have left TKR 41-3 in the seventh over.

Both Darren Bravo and the New Zealander kept the alarming fluency to the innings hitting boundaries at will. He took to off-spinner Steven Jacobs who surprisingly was not given the new ball, for 14 runs in the 9th over- the over which he replaced Khan had previously conceded just three runs and created numerous chances.
The foregone conclusion that Warriors were batted out of the contest became pellucid as the match progressed. Fortune indeed favours the brave as Rayad Emrit bowled Bravo with a slower ball trying to play a booming cover-drive.

McCullum cuts loose
The 15th over proved the final nail in the coffin for Warriors as TKR took medium-pacer Roshon Primus to the cleaners by scoring 20 in his lone over. His first ball, a full toss, McCullum lifts it up and over mid-off to bring up his second fifty of the season from 39 balls.
A single and two was followed by him making room to disdainfully hit Primus for six over the covers.
The next six was huge! A straight hit which sailed hit the roof of the Pavilion and out the ground.
The sorrow faces by the team of the team got a chance to show Denesh Ramdin stylishly hit a flat six to seal the match.
Inserted by Knight Riders, Walton took ten off the first over delivered by Ronsford Beaton, clipping him through fine-leg for consecutive boundaries.
Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre brought the demise of Walton after the batsman dragged him straight down the throat of wide long-on.
Captain Martin Guptill was bowled by a classical off-spinning delivery from Narine. Dragged forward with the flight, Guptill went for an expansive drive but the ball spun back in sharply to sneak through the big gap between bat and pad to knock the stumps.
Assad Fudadin having his first match of the season impressed in his short stay at the crease , hitting two fours and a majestic six which landed in the Red Stand. Just as he was beginning to look assured at the crease, he top-edged a mid-wicket leaving his team 39 for 3 in the seventh over.
Jason Mohammed, who top scored with 65 (6x4s; 2x6s) played some exquisite shots through cover region to get his innings going. His partner in the rebuilding process Gajanand Singh was gifted an early reprieve, being dropped with a sensational effort by Javon Searles in the 10th over.
Searles came in too quickly from deep square leg but saw the ball swirling over his head, in the end had to dive full length backwards and it just eluded him. The miss-hap ensured the home side reached 61-3 in the 10th over.
Both players continued to grow in stature and Singh in particular looked to be in full control of his innings. He brought the crowd to its feet, with a gorgeous sweep shot- backward of square, helping the Warriors progress to 89 for 3 in the 15th over.
The rush for quick was runs was on, with Mohammed giving himself room to swat Dwayne Bravo over cover for four. They kept the pressure on the Knight Riders’ boundary riders, scampering for quick twos. Beaton broke the back the fourth wicket 63-run partnership which came from 59 balls when Singh top edged a short-ball falling for run-a-ball 27 which was inclusive of two fours. It took a single for the wristy Mohammed to reach his run-a-ball half century that was inclusive of fours and one six. From there-on he looked to play a shot a ball, slapping Beaton over point for four then taking the attack to Bravo, clipping him over cover for four then depositing him deep into the Orange Stand. The champion dancing of Bravo eventually came out when he bowled Mohammed with the final ball of the innings.
Warriors will face Barbados Tridents today from 18:00 hrs while Knight Riders will have their next match on Wednesday against host St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.