The Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their winning form as they extended their lead at the top of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a win against the St Lucia Zouks. Wickets from Rayad Emrit, Sohail Tanvir and the tournament’s leading wicket taker Adam Zampa set up the win and runs from Dwayne Smith, Jason Mohammed and Chris Lynn finished the job.

Having made 138-6, the Zouks were well in this game but they would need to bowl and field well to defeat an Amazon Warriors team that has been in fantastic form. They did the first part of that equation well enough in the opening overs of their defence, but the fielding let them down as Martin Guptill, the Amazon Warriors in-form batsman, dropped twice in six balls.

Those slip ups in the field allowed the Amazon Warriors to put together an opening stand of 55 before Guptill did depart, caught and bowled by Derone Davis. The loss of Guptill brought Chris Lynn to the crease and the Australian looked assured from the moment he arrived. His innings of 38 from just 29 balls guided his team home.

The required rate was down to a run a ball by the 10th over of Guyana’s chase and Lynn and Jason Mohammed could just knock the ball around to secure a comprehensive victory with 16 balls to spare.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors bowled first for the fourth successive home match and the tactic worked out once again as they got off to the best possible start.
Sohail Tanvir had removed both of the Zouks openers before the first over had finished and they struggled to recover from that double strike. Johnson Charles was the first man to go, well caught by Guptill. Then Shane Watson edged Tanvir through to the keeper to leave the Zouks two wickets down with just four runs on the board.

The one man to hold firm throughout the Zouks’ innings was Michael Hussey who made 64 (50 balls). Hussey was going at less than a run a ball until he reached 32 and he accelerated well from there. Hussey put on 62 runs with David Miller, the most significant partnership of the innings.

An 11-run cameo from Sammy helped the Zouks to a total that was respectable if not daunting, but it was Hussey that deserved all of the plaudits for the recovery after the openers fell early. Hussey’s innings came to an end in the 19th over when he attempted to hit Rayad Emrit over long-on for six but he was well caught by Chris Lynn.

It was a decent batting effort but it wasn’t enough against the rampaging Amazon Warriors who are already well placed to make the knockout stages.

Barbados Tridents v St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Preview

It has been a poor start to the Hero CPL for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and they play against Shoaib Malik and the Barbados Tridents in their next match. Shoaib says they will still be a tough opposition when his team plays them.

“Even if you are not playing good cricket you have the opportunity to come back. Even though they didn’t play well in their home conditions, obviously they are going to bounce back. They have a decent team and I think in this format whatever the situation or whatever the conditions you go out there and give your best shot.

“For us the way we played well against them in their home conditions I think our aggression was controlled and we are going to play this game the same way and
I am sure it is going to be a good battle between two good teams.”

This will be the second home game for the Tridents this year, and Shoaib says it is great to be playing at such a famous cricketing venue.

“Playing at the Kensington Oval is always a pleasure. Home conditions is something that gives you a slight extra edge. We had a few practice days here before the CPL started, whenever you are playing at home you have the opportunity to put points on the table.”

Shoaib has been a vital cog for the Tridents with both bat and ball, but says he relishes the chance to have an impact in both facets of the game.
“There is pressure being an all-rounder, but you have more opportunity. You have two options, if you fail in one you still have the second option. I am enjoying playing as an all-rounder, my goal is to be consistent which will give my team an edge.”

Brief scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 139-2 (J Mohammed 43*, C Lynn 37*, S Shillingford 1 for 28) beat St Lucia Zouks 138-6 (M Hussey 64, R Emrit 2 for 25) by 8 wickets with 16 balls to spare