PROVIDENCE, Guyana -- THE Rangpur Riders claimed a dramatic 15-run victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), propelling themselves above the Hampshire Hawks in the standings.
After winning the toss, Riders captain Nurul Hasan chose to bat first—a decision that initially seemed disastrous. The team crumbled to 117 all out, reeling at 14/4 and 27/5 as the Warriors' bowling attack wreaked havoc.
Dwayne Pretorius led the Warriors' charge with a superb spell, claiming 3 wickets for just 15 runs. Despite the carnage, Khushdil Shah anchored the Riders’ innings with a gritty half-century. Shah’s 58 off 47 balls, featuring two fours and four sixes, was instrumental in salvaging the Riders’ total. Nurul Hasan chipped in with 15 runs off 26 balls, adding some stability during the middle overs.
In their reply, the Warriors faced similar struggles. Moeen Ali and Pretorius fell cheaply at the top of the order, and Shimron Hetmyer was dismissed for a golden duck by Kamrul Islam Rabbi, leaving the Warriors in disarray at 7/3 and then 27/5—eerily mirroring the Riders’ earlier collapse.
Shai Hope provided a glimmer of resistance with 35 runs off 44 balls, but his dismissal by Rishad Hossain in the 18th over left the Warriors on the brink. Romario Shepherd kept their hopes alive with a six off Khushdil Shah in the penultimate over, reducing the equation to 16 runs needed from the final over.
However, Shepherd’s heroics were short-lived as he was caught by Wayne Madsen off the first ball of the last over, bowled by Kamrul Islam Rabbi. The Warriors were bowled out for 102, handing the Riders their first win of the tournament and condemning the Warriors to their second defeat.
The Warriors now face an anxious wait for the results of Thursday’s doubleheader to determine if they can secure a spot in Friday’s inaugural GSL final.
