GEORGETOWN, Guyana – THE Guyana Amazon Warriors booked their place in yet another CPL final, edging defending champions Saint Lucia Kings by 15 runs in front of a raucous crowd at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on Tuesday night (Sept. 17).
Both teams entered the contest as strong favourites to lift the trophy, but it was the Kings who won the toss and opted to bowl. They restricted the Warriors to a modest 157 all out on a surface already worn from the Women’s CPL final earlier in the day.
The Warriors’ top order failed to convert their starts, with Ben McDermott (34), Shai Hope (32), and Quentin Sampson (17) all falling after looking set. The innings was revived late on by lower-order fireworks from Dwaine Pretorius (77 off 48) and Romario Shepherd (21 from 8), who lifted the total past the 150 mark. Tabraiz Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers for the Kings, claiming 3 for 33, while Tymal Mills, Alzarri Joseph, and David Wiese chipped in with two wickets apiece.
The Kings’ reply quickly unraveled. Pretorius struck in the very first over, removing the in-form Tim Seifert, and from there the Warriors’ bowlers tore through the batting lineup. Brilliant fielding backed them up—Shimron Hetmyer and Shepherd both pulled off sensational catches to keep the pressure firmly on the visitors.
At the halfway stage, the Kings were tottering at 52 for 7, seemingly dead and buried. But a spirited 37-run stand between Khary Pierre and Alzarri Joseph gave them a glimmer of hope. Pierre fought bravely, bringing up a rapid 50 from just 28 balls, only to fall immediately after, handing Gudakesh Motie his fourth wicket.
Mills added some late drama with clean hitting that briefly quieted the Providence crowd, but he fell to Hassan Khan in the final over, sealing victory for Guyana.
With the win, the Warriors advance directly to Sunday’s grand final, while the Kings will face the Trinbago Knight Riders on Friday in a must-win playoff for a second shot at reaching the decider.
