KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Guyana Amazon Warriors defeated Jamaica Tallawahs by 81 runs on the 15th match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Sabina Park on Wednesday night.
Sent in at Sabina Park, Amazon Warriors marched to 218 for six off their 20 overs – their highest ever CPL total – with captain Shoaib Malik top-scoring with a classy unbeaten 67 off 37 deliveries and Brandon King slamming 59 off 37 deliveries in front of his home crowd.
In reply, Tallawahs got 40 apiece from New Zealander Glenn Phillips and explosive all-rounder Andre Russell but the hosts struggled to keep up with the demanding required run rate and were eventually bundled out for 137 in the 18th over.
Russell, in his first game following an injury layoff after being struck in the head against St Lucia Zouks a week ago, kept Tallawahs in the contest in a 60-run fifth-wicket stand with Phillips.
But once Russell slapped fast bowler Odean Smith to Shoaib at cover in the 13th over, all hope of a Tallawahs comeback diminished as the run chase unraveled quickly.
Fast-bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul recovered from a difficult start to take three for 34 while leg-spinners Imran Tahir (2-21) and Qais Ahmad (2-35) snatched two wickets apiece.
The win for the visitors was their fifth on the trot, securing them sole possession of the first place in the standings on 10 points.
Tallawahs, meanwhile, suffered their fifth defeat in six games to remain bottom on two points, and now need to win their remaining four games to guarantee themselves a place in the top four.
 at Sabina Park on Wednesday night.){kind=link}