Gurbaz, Dindyal blast Warriors past Kingsmen in Providence

The Jamaica Kingsmen were given little chance to settle, and the Guyana Amazon Warriors made sure they never recovered.

Powered by a blistering PowerPlay assault from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mavendra Dindyal, the Warriors chased down 160 with 16 balls to spare, completing an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the Kingsmen at Providence Stadium on Friday night.

The result preserved Guyana’s unbeaten home record this season while leaving Jamaica with plenty to address as the playoff race intensifies.

Kingsmen lose their way

The Kingsmen were never able to generate sustained momentum after being sent in to bat.

Guyana’s bowlers attacked early and kept the pressure on, with Dwaine Pretorius making the first major breakthrough.

He dismissed Kirk McKenzie for just one and Keacy Carty for 18, both trapped lbw, to leave Jamaica struggling for a platform.

Khary Pierre then added two more wickets as the Kingsmen continued to lose ground.

Usman Khan and Maaz Sadaqat were among those unable to build a substantial partnership, with Sadaqat making 35 from 34 deliveries.

By the 13th over, Jamaica had slumped to 83 for five.

Keemo Paul had contributed 15, while captain Rovman Powell departed for a golden duck after falling to Mohammad Nabi.

The innings appeared headed for a modest total.

Then Hassan Khan changed the complexion of the contest.

Hassan launches a late rescue

With the Kingsmen in trouble, Hassan produced an explosive counterattack.

He hammered 62 from only 29 balls, clearing the boundary six times and giving Jamaica the late surge it desperately needed.

His assault helped push the Kingsmen to 159 for seven, a total that at least offered their bowlers something to defend.

Odean Smith chipped in with 13 before being run out, while Vitel Lawes remained unbeaten as the innings closed.

From 83 for five, Jamaica had managed to add 76 runs.

The question was whether it would be enough.

Gurbaz and Dindyal destroy the PowerPlay

The answer came quickly.

Gurbaz and Dindyal attacked from the outset, turning what might have been a competitive chase into a one-sided pursuit.

The pair raced to 46 in fewer than five overs, immediately putting the Kingsmen's bowlers under pressure.

Dindyal eventually fell to Hunain Shah after smashing 33 from 17 balls, an innings featuring four sixes.

But the momentum never left Guyana.

Gurbaz continued the assault and brought up 54 from 35 deliveries, striking five fours and three sixes.

His dismissal, caught by Powell off Sadaqat with the score on 114 in the 13th over, did little to alter the outcome.

The Warriors were already firmly in control.

Hope and Hetmyer finish the job

With the foundation laid, captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer calmly completed the chase.

Hope struck an unbeaten 39 from 35 balls, while Hetmyer provided the finishing burst with 30 not out from only 17 deliveries.

Together, they guided Guyana across the line in the 18th over.

The Warriors maintained a required scoring rate of 9.23 runs per over throughout the chase, a reflection of how consistently they kept Jamaica under pressure.

Only Hunain Shah and Sadaqat claimed wickets for the Kingsmen.

For the rest of Jamaica's attack, there was little relief as the Warriors' batting unit repeatedly found ways to keep the scoreboard moving.

Guyana tighten their grip at home

The eight-wicket victory extends the Amazon Warriors' unbeaten run at Providence Stadium this season and strengthens their position as one of the competition's most formidable home sides.

For the Kingsmen, the defeat is a warning at a crucial point in the campaign.

Their middle-order collapse forced Hassan Khan into rescue mode, but even his extraordinary 62 could not compensate for the damage inflicted during the early stages of Guyana's bowling.

The Warriors, by contrast, made the target look far smaller than it was.

Jamaica had fought back from 83 for five to post 159 for seven.

But once Gurbaz and Dindyal unleashed their PowerPlay assault, the contest swung decisively in Guyana's favor.

The Warriors finished with 16 deliveries remaining, leaving the Kingsmen to regroup quickly if they are to remain firmly in the playoff hunt.