Republic Bank CPL… Nabi, Shepherd bowl Amazon Warriors into CPL playoffs

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) have secured their spot in the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) early, following a comfortable seven-wicket victory over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Sunday afternoon.
It was hot and sweltering at Providence, but the hosts were unfazed, snapping the Patriots’ previous good run of form.
After winning the toss and curiously electing to bat first, Kyle Mayers started confidently for the Patriots, hitting three fours and one six in a 34-run first-wicket partnership.
Romario Shepherd was the man with the breakthrough, responding well to being hit over the long-off boundary for a maximum by Mayers. The very next delivery, Mayers had his off stump sent cartwheeling by the Berbician, as he departed for 20 off 12 deliveries.

Shamar Joseph came in breathing fire from the next end, indicated by the 143.3 kilometre-per-hour delivery he served up at the start of the over. An early opportunity came two balls later as a slim edge off Andre Fletcher’s bat zipped past Rahmanullah Gurbaz at slip. Gurbaz though, not being tall enough, could not get hand to it as he leapt to his left.
Joseph finally got his reward on the last ball of the over. Fletcher, unable to get Joseph away, finally got bat onto ball, but could only loft it to Shimron Hetmyer at mid-off, who took a comfortable catch.
Shepherd was dealing in stumps, rocking back Johnson Charles’ middle stump for 13 off 15 balls in the ensuing wicket maiden.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors were well on their way.
The spinners came to the party soon after and between Captain Imran Tahir and Mohammad Nabi, the runs slowed for the Patriots.
Nabi struck gold in the ninth over and again in the 11th, having Jason Holder caught at deep midwicket for 7 off 13 deliveries while Wanindu Hasaranga had his stumps rattled for 4.
In contrast to the wickets falling all around him, Alick Athanaze appeared to be playing in different conditions, operating from a place of comfort. Athanaze dispatched the likes of Tahir, Joseph and Shepherd over the ropes for the rare boundary.
The hope of the Patriots came and went in that time, Dasun Shanaka only able to pitch in a run- a-ball 20 before offering Shepherd his third scalp of the afternoon. Switching ends, Nabi again roughed up the visitors with a double-wicket strike in the 18th over. However, local boy Ashmead Nedd avoided the hat-trick ball.
Athanaze brought up his half-century in the 19th over, dispatching Dwaine Pretorius over the long-on boundary to bring up his second CPL fifty. Athanaze slammed four sixes and two fours in his 52 off 39 deliveries, but could not press on, going for the scoop in the 20th over, but only getting it as far as Shai Hope’s gloves behind the stumps.
The Patriots ended on a meagre 128 all-out in 19.3 overs.
Nabi was the pick of the Amazon Warriors bowlers, claiming 4-17 from 4 while Shepherd picked up 3-16 from 3 overs.
A calm chase from the hosts followed as they closed out their sixth consecutive win this season.
Gurbaz was the only man feeling any sense of urgency, hitting five fours and two sixes in his brisk 39 off 25 deliveries. His party was ended, however, with the introduction of Hasaranga, who rattled the Afghan international’s stumps after he tried to play across the line.
Mavendra Dindyal tried to pick up where Gurbaz left off, clearing the boundary twice, but a forward shot off Navin Bidaisee’s bowling had just enough air time for the bowler to take the catch, sending the young Guyanese batsman back for 17 off 16 deliveries.
Hetmyer’s stay was brief, but Hope put up his hand after, joining with Nabi for a 54-run partnership that would see the Amazon Warriors over the line in 18.3 overs.
Hope ended on an unbeaten 38 from 44 deliveries while Nabi was also unbeaten on 25. Bidaisee was the pick of the Patriots bowlers, snaring 2-20 from 4 overs.