GEORGETOWN, Guyana – AN inning of clean hitting from middle-order batsman Shemron Hetmyer ensured that the Guyana Amazon Warriors maintained an unbeaten home record against the St. Kitts-Nevis Patriots.
The Patriots suffered their second loss of the season when they went down by 8 wickets at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss on a slow track and inserted the Patriots, who were quickly on the back foot when they lost opener K. Ottley with the score on 19 inside the third over.
However, a brilliant half-century by wicketkeeper Devon Thomas pushed the visitors to 153 for 8 off their 20 overs.
Thomas’ inning comprised 7x4s and two towering sixes when he launched into Shadab Khan in the 16th over.
The wicketkeeper struck back-to-back sixes when he launched Khan back over his head six before slug sweeping a wide delivery over the boundary to bring up his half-century.
Lower order batsman Fabian Allen chipped in with a quick fire 33 from 19 balls.
In reply, the Guyana Amazon Warriors openers laid a 63-run opening partnership to set the host on course to victory.
Patriots strike bowler, Sheldon Cottrell broke the opening partnership between Brandon King and Chanderpaul Hemraj when he dismissed the former with the score on 63.
King scored 27 off 21 balls and Hemraj was later dismissed for 39 by captain Carlos Braithwaite.
That cleared the way for the free-scoring Hetmyer to blast the Patriots bowlers to all parts of the ground, scoring an unbeaten 70 to lead his side to victory inside 19 overs.
After the game, Hetmyer told reporters that he was happy to get runs under his belt after a disappointing series against India.
“I just tried as much as possible to do my best and correct my wrongs in the batting department. It is always great playing in front of the Guyana crowd, and I am happy to pull off one.”
Braithwaite acknowledged that his side did not have a lot of intensity in their performance during the game.
He told reporters that the conditions were tough for both batting and bowling, and his players did not adapt properly.
“I think the Amazon Warriors played better cricket than we did…and they are the deserving winners.”
The Patriots caption pointed to his team’s poor fielding and batting perform and the downfall for them in the opening games.
