Amazon Warriors upset in GSL

A team-high 35 runs from Shai Hope and three wickets from Dwaine Pretorius were insufficient to spare the blushes of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, second-best to the Rangpur Riders on Wednesday evening in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL). Rangpur Riders won by 15 runs to earn their first victory.

The Amazon Warriors, 2023 Caribbean Premier League champions, now find themselves in danger of missing out on Friday’s final, whilst Rangpur Riders climbed off the foot of the table in the eight-day, five-team T20 franchise tournament. They moved above England’s Hampshire Hawks in the standings.

Hope hit a patient 35 off 44 balls in the chase, after Pretorius, Moeen Ali, and Shimron Hetmyer all had their feet up in the pavilion by the end of the second over. By the end of the fifth over, Roston Chase and Hassan Khan had followed.

Along with Gudakesh Motie, Hope set about the task of rebuilding the innings with just five wickets in hand, but with a reasonable target of 90 runs in 90 balls. The pair added 3 runs from 37 balls, before Motie went for 15.

Keemo Paul came in to smash 18 off 12 balls, accelerating the run rate slightly. In his 24-ball partnership with Hope, they put on 26 runs.

The possibility of pulling out a win faded when Hope was dismissed at the start of the 18th over. Romario Shepherd smashed a six in the penultimate over to leave 16 runs needed off the final six balls, but with no wickets in hand for the Warriors.

Shepherd fell off the first ball off the last over, as the Warriors ended 102 all out.

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.

Pretorius took three wickets for just 15 runs. Khushdil Shah anchored the Riders’ innings with a gritty half-century, 58 off 47 balls, featuring two fours and four sixes. That knock was instrumental in salvaging the Riders’ total. Nurul Hasan chipped in with 15 runs off 26 balls, adding some stability during the middle overs.

On Thursday morning, Victoria defeated Hampshire by 75 runs to go top of the table. Just one preliminary match remains, and a win for the Lahore Qalanders over the Rangpur Riders would see the Warriors being spectators at their home tournament.

(TF)