Republic Bank CPL: Amazon Warriors cruise to third win against Kings

A sensational bowling performance from the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) on Saturday night steered the defending champions to a massive 6- wicket victory over the so far, unbeaten St. Lucia Kings; in match 10 of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024.
For the fans at home, panic set in early in when technical difficulties stalled the live broadcast. However, many miles away the Amazon Warriors were wreaking havoc on the St. Lucia Kings at the Daren Sammy Stadium, for their home fans to witness.
St.. Lucia’s captain Faf du Plesis was the first to depart for 6, to Dwaine Pretorius’ bowling. Thereafter, little partnerships were formed between Johnson Charles and Ackeem August and later, Charles and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
But it was the 6th and seventh overs bowled by Keemo Paul and Imran Tahir that did the damage to the St. Lucian line-up.

First Paul calmed the prized wickets of Johnson Charles and Rajapaksa for 19 and 7 runs respectively, while Tahir cleaned up Roston Chase and David Wiese in consecutive balls off the 7th over.
At 49-6, the Kings were definitely in a spot of bother.
It was at that point that the live broadcasts resumed and it appeared as though this change was a stroke of luck for the St. Lucian’s who were finally able to find some runs.
Matthew Forde struck a trio of sixes in his 21-ball 31 before Gudakesh Motie’s reintroduction into the bowling attack signaled the end of the Kings’ innings.
Motie went in to claim 3-16 from 3.3 overs, with two wickets in his final over to rout the Kings for an even 100 runs in 14.3 overs. Captain Imran Tahir also took three wickets, conversing 29 runs in his four overs, alongside Paul’s 2.

In spite of the loss of four wickets, the chase appeared to be a bit of a breeze for the defending champions.
Tim Robinson announced himself to the CPL with 3 fours and 2 sixes in his 33 from 20. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the one carrying on the fireworks however, slamming seven sixes about the Daren Sammy Stadium.
Unfortunately, Gurbaz fell 3 short of his second half- century of this year’s CPL after facing just 19 balls.
Despite the fall of wickets, the Amazon Warriors were racing to their target and the take only got more ironic when Shimron Hetmyer made his way to the pick.
The very first ball Hetmyer faced was bowled by Alzarri Joseph but a subtle bounced invalidated what could have been a caught and bowled by a visibly angry Joseph, who launched the ball back at Hetmyer’s stumps.

In the very next ball, Hetty returned the favour to Jospeh, dispatching him over the deep mid wicket boundary for six. Thereafter, the Warriors needed only 3 runs to get over the line.
Shai Hope tried a big shot but lost his wicket and eventually Hetmyer took it home with a double- run off the last ball of the 10th over.
Though the Warriors raced to their target in record time to make a significant boost to their run rate, which now sits at +2.53; Noor Ahmad was once again brilliant for the Kings’ bowling attack.
Ahmad claimed 3-22 from his four overs.
The Republic Bank CPL action will continue tonight with the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons taking on the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts, from 19:00hrs. (G6)