“Unreal feeling” – Forde on GSL final

It’s really good to have won this final, I’m just out of words to be honest.
“This is probably number one. Yeah, this is number one now.”
Those were the words of beaming Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) all-rounder Matthew Forde on Saturday evening as he came to grips with what was a shocking win for the home side in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) 2026 final.
One of the Amazon Warriors’ most animated players throughout the competition, Forde could be seen laying on the pitch in celebration after Shimron Hetmyer effected the game-winning run-out.
Forde was a key figure in that final, coming to the crease when the Amazon Warriors were reeling at 29-8. The bowling all-rounder went on to slam two fours and two sixes in a valuable 28 off 23 balls, to get the Warriors up to 85.
Quizzed about how the game unfolded, Forde described the turn of events as ‘unreal’.

“With the bat, I thought I left about 30-40 runs out there and probably 120-130 on this wicket would’ve been a very different game, it would’ve been a demanding win probably,” Forde admitted.
He went on to share, “Within that, I was a bit disappointed, so, you know, seeing us cross the line after scoring 85 in the first innings, it was an unreal feeling, I was just sitting there, thank the Father Above ‘cause without him, nothing is possible. He’s been a backbone in my life so far and I’ve just got to keep thanking him.”
Discussing his time spent with the Amazon Warriors franchise, Forde had high words of praise for their camaraderie.
He explained, “For me, personally, coming in to this Guyana side, watching them from the outskirts, they were always a team that I admired the way they played. It was easy, really, coming in and just making an impact in whatever department I can. Just being around these guys – Hetmyer, Motie, Shepherd, my friends, we’re a great group even in the West Indies team, so it was like just coming in to another friendship group.”
“The cricket, the camaraderie in the dressing room, everything that you can understand why they’re a team that does so well over the years, because it’s a dressing room that just allows you to be free and just play naturally,” he further expressed.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors pulled of a six-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns to retain their ExxonMobil GSL title. They will now switch to the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which bowls off this Friday, August 7.