Republic Bank CPL… Hope, Hetmyer lead charge as Warriors fire past Falcons with dominant display

A shot-filled 99-run partnership between Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope produced one of the most comprehensive chases in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this season as the Guyana Amazon Warriors wrapped up a chase of 117 in 9.5 overs to disrupt the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at home at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium.
The Amazon Warriors have now shot back to the top of the CPL points table with a perfect six points from three games and an impressive 2.99 run-rate.
Before the fireworks with the bat, the Guyanese franchise’s bowlers, led by Man of the Match Khary Pierre, stopped the Falcons in their tracks, routing them for 116 in 17 overs after winning the toss and opting to bowl first.
It was a sketchy start to the chase for the Amazon Warriors, who lost both openers inside three overs. Matthew Nandu miscued a Jayden Seales delivery to mid-on where Joshua James took a comfortable catch, departing for one, while Glenn Phillips, who looked to be going all guns blazing at 11 off 5, sliced to third man and met his demise.

The Falcons pressed on with their pace twins in Alzarri Joseph and Seales, but they could not replicate the goods, Captain Moeen Ali turned to his spinners. Whether spin or pace, the duo of Hope and Hetmyer sent them to all parts of the park.
Hope pressed the gas first, smashing two fours and four sixes while Hetmyer later caught up, with one four and six sixes coming off his bat.
In reach of the victory, with just two runs to get, Hetmyer edged Shamar Springer to the keeper after accumulating 18 runs in the first four balls of the over, for an anticlimactic end to his innings, 49 off 19.
Hope, though, remained unbeaten on 47 off 26 deliveries, but was unable to get to his half-century as Quentin Sampson dispatched the first ball he faced over the boundary to bring up the Amazon Warriors’ mighty victory in 9.5 overs.

Setting up an easy chase
Similarly to the night before when the Falcons battled the Trinbago Knight Riders, Rahkeem Cornwall was the aggressor of the openers, dispatching two boundaries early, however, after being teased with singles Cornwall’s soft dismissal was signalled, and he eventually chipped one back to Pierre in the second over for nine runs.
The Amazon Warriors’ hopes rose and deflated almost instantaneously three balls later as Amir Jangoo’s attempt at the slog sweep could only get as far as the edge of the circle. Phillips, however, could not hold on to the opportunity.
Though Karima Gore came and went in typical West Indies fashion – 6 and out – for 8, Jangoo tried to make the most of his second life in the innings, which manifested in a 40-run partnership for the third wicket.
The Amazon Warriors needed to get a handle back on the game and Captain Imran Tahir turned to his spin department. The Captain did the job himself, serving up a full delivery to Hasan Nawaz, who sent it out to deep square where Phillips was waiting to redeem himself.
The onslaught of spin from Tahir, Mohamad Nabi and Phillips dried up the runs for the Falcons and as Guyanese would say ‘pressure buss pipe’.
Jangoo, looking to maximise off of the New Zealand all-rounder’s bowling, slapped one to third man, into the hands of Romario Shepherd and had to depart after a well-set 37 off 29.
At 84-4 in the 12th over, Falcons Coach Paul Nixon employed a plan to spike the run rate, sending James ahead of some more seasoned batters. James looked fit for the job, smashing Phillips for a 4 and a 6 in the final two balls of his over, but an enticing short ball from Shamar Joseph in the very next over became his undoing.
The house of cards continued to tumble down for the Falcons, who went on to lose their last five wickets for just eight runs. As the Falcons Captain walked back for four, Tahir’s third over produced a double strike for the Warriors, reducing the Falcons to 112 for 8.
A mix-up between Shadab Khan and Kusal Perera found Perera short of his ground, and he was run out for one while Tahir did the bank job himself three balls later, rattling Shamar Springer’s stumps.
Tahir almost believed he had Alzarri Joseph too, but a look in with the third umpire proved him wrong, Nonetheless, the Amazon Warriors’ Joseph accounted for his namesake, and Seales, uprooting their stumps for ducks.
While Joseph ended with 3-22 from 3 overs, both Pierre and Tahir snared two wickets in addition to Shepherd and Phillips’ single strikes.
The Republic Bank CPL will take a pause today and resume on Tuesday, August 25 with a clash between the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons and the Barbados Royals from 19:00h as the Falcons hope to close out their home leg on a high note.