BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - RAIN and a poor fielding display led to another defeat of the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots last evening (Jul. 8); this time by the Guyana Amazon Warriors on the Duckworth Lewis method.
After winning the toss, Patriots captain Marlon Samuels took a shock decision to bat first despite the overcast weather condition.
The Patriots openers seemed in ominous freedom as Martin Guptill and Evin Lewis placed early pressure on Christopher Barnwell and Ronsford Beaton, which prompted their captain to turn to spinners early in the innings that proved to be a good decision.
Veerasammy Permaul got Guptill LBW for 10 in his first over and the momentum seemed to be going in the South Americans favour when Lewis quickly followed and the Patriots were reduced to 25-2 in four overs.
Captain Samuels had to save the sinking ship once again and was well supported by home boy Tonito Willet.
Early in the partnership, Samuels and Willet struggled to score but then found their groove and picked up the run rate. The partnership realised a much deserved 54.
When Willet departed Samuels and Devon Thomas then continued the momentum as the former went on to make his second consecutive half century.
Samuels’ stay at the crease however came to an end after Dinesh Ramdim went up for an appeal which was referred to the third umpire who, through replays, saw Samuels hit the ball onto his boot and it was caught by Ramdin.
The likes of Carlos Brathwaite and Shahid Afridi had provided some lusty blows to power the Patriots to 158 off their allotted 20 overs.
In their reply, the Guyanese openers, Trevon Griffith and Assad Fudadin, got the innings off to a slow start. Griffith was undone by a jaffer from Sheldon Cottrell who gave him his marching orders and a salute as he marched off.
That then brought Ramdin to the crease and he looked to put the Amazon Warriors ahead of the Duckworth Lewis system.
The innings was then interrupted by rain for about 15 minutes.
Ramdin then returned after the delay in the same vein and powered his side with 31 off 15 balls until he gloved one to the wicketkeeper.
Unlike the Amazon Warriors, the Patriots spinners struggled to get a hold on the game and Fudadin, who struggled against the quicker bowlers, thrived when they came on to bowl.
A second rain delay then threatened to end the game, but it held off to see an end between the two teams.
Brad Hodge then went on to make his 50 just off 21 balls and many believed that Fudadin would have also scored a half century, but a third spell of rain brought a premature end to the game.
The Amazon Warriors however won the game on the Duckworth Lewis method having scored 146-2 off 16.4 overs.
Hodge was adjudged Man of the Match for his 61 runs off 36 balls.
