In one of the most dramatic finishes of this year’s Caribbean Premier League, the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots pulled off a five-run heist against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Thursday night in Providence.
Victory came in the most nail-biting fashion—decided on the very last delivery—thanks to an inspired final over from young Pakistani pace sensation Naseem Shah.
The Warriors, chasing 150 for victory, appeared favorites with 15 runs needed off the last six balls and a raucous home crowd behind them. But Shah delivered under pressure, firing in clinical yorkers that dismantled Guyana’s hopes. He first removed Keemo Paul for nine, then conceded just five runs in total to silence the stadium and keep the Patriots’ season alive.
Rizwan anchors the innings
Earlier, after being asked to bat by Warriors captain Imran Tahir, the Patriots relied heavily on the class of Mohammad Rizwan. The Pakistani opener compiled a sublime 85 from 62 deliveries, peppered with eight boundaries and three towering sixes. His knock provided the spine of the Patriots’ total of 149-6, as wickets tumbled regularly around him.
Rizwan’s innings ended in disappointment, run out following a miscommunication in the penultimate over. Still, his contribution left the Patriots with a total that gave their bowlers something to defend. Support came in flashes, with Navin Bidaisee adding an unbeaten 22. For the Warriors, Gudakesh Motie and Hassan Khan claimed two wickets apiece.
Warriors falter in the chase
The hosts, though always in contention, lacked a match-defining innings to match Rizwan’s. Shai Hope top-scored with 31, while Ben McDermott chipped in with 21. Partnerships threatened to blossom but fizzled before any could seize control of the chase.
Ultimately, the Warriors ended at 144-8, undone by Shah’s brilliance at the death and by Waqar Salamkheil, who also bagged two wickets in support.
The result injects fresh life into the Patriots’ campaign. They now climb to fifth place with six points from nine matches, their playoff hopes flickering but still alive. The Warriors, meanwhile, remain in fourth with eight points from seven outings. With the group stage approaching its climax, every contest now carries heightened significance in the race to the knockout rounds.
