Warriors pull off miracle to retain ExxonMobil GSL title

The third edition of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) concluded at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, where defending champions the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) won the toss and elected to bat first against the San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) in front of a packed home crowd.
The visitors made an immediate impact with the ball during the powerplay. Veteran seamer Peter Siddle trapped Johnson Charles lbw for just two before Fabian Allen produced an excellent return catch in the following over to dismiss the in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz for eight. The Warriors’ top order continued to crumble as Siddle claimed his second wicket by trapping Shimron Hetmyer LBW for four before removing Mohammad Haris for six. At the end of the powerplay, the home side were reeling at 24 for four.

The collapse continued when Anirudh Immanuel struck in his first over, bowling Mohammad Nabi for two before trapping Captain Rovman Powell lbw for another two. Gudakesh Motie then became Immanuel’s third victim, also falling LBW for two, leaving the Warriors in dire straits at 27 for seven, after 8.1 overs. Matters worsened shortly afterwards when Romario Shepherd was run out, reducing the defending champions to 29 for eight.
After 10 overs, the Warriors were struggling at 34 for eight. Two overs later they had crawled to 49 for eight, with Immanuel completing a superb spell of three for seven from his four overs at an outstanding economy rate of 1.75.
The Warriors brought up their 50 in the 14th over before Matthew Forde provided the home supporters with a brief spark of resistance. He took 16 runs from a Fabian Allen over and shared a valuable 41-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Forde’s knock ended on 28 from 23 balls, including two fours and two sixes, when he was brilliantly caught at deep midwicket with the score on 70 for nine.
Imran Tahir was the final wicket to fall after making 11 from 11 deliveries, while Dwaine Pretorius remained unbeaten on 17 from 30 balls. GAW were eventually bowled out for just 85 in 18.5 overs after a disastrous batting display.

Defending a modest total of 85, GAW produced a remarkable bowling performance to keep their title hopes alive. Dwaine Pretorius and Gudakesh Motie provided the perfect start by removing both San Francisco Unicorns openers with the score on just six for two. Pretorius then struck again, dismissing Captain Hassan Khan for nine, as Shimron Hetmyer held a comfortable catch at mid-off. At the end of the power play, SFU were 38 for three with Oliver Peake looking well set at the crease.
Sanjay Krishnamurthi frustrated the Warriors with a patient nine from 23 deliveries before Mohammad Nabi eventually broke the resistance, with Hetmyer taking his second catch of the innings. After 10 overs, SFU appeared to be in control at 53 for four.
The match turned dramatically in the 11th over when Imran Tahir bowled Hammad Azam for one before dismissing Karima Gore with the very next delivery to leave the Unicorns wobbling. Nabi then removed the well-set Peake lbw for 31 from 28 balls, an innings that included three fours and a six, before trapping Anirudh Immanuel lbw for a fourth-ball duck. The collapse left SFU reeling at 58 for eight after 12 overs, with the Warriors sensing an unlikely victory.
Pretorius returned to claim his third wicket by dismissing Fabian Allen for six from 15 deliveries, reducing the Unicorns to 72 for nine. With just seven runs required for victory, Shimron Hetmyer produced a moment of brilliance in the field, running out Stow for one to end the innings on 79.
In remarkable fashion, GAW successfully defended just 85 runs to defeat the San Francisco Unicorns by six runs, retaining their ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League title in one of the most dramatic finals in the tournament’s history. (Gerald Montfort)