Kingsmen’s nightmare continues as Warriors spin Jamaica to third straight loss

The Jamaica Kingsmen’s difficult opening to the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League season took another turn for the worse Thursday, as the Guyana Amazon Warriors dismantled the newly rebranded side by six wickets at Sabina Park.

Jamaica’s batting never recovered after being asked to set a target, with veteran spinners Mohammad Nabi and Imran Tahir combining for six wickets to bowl the Kingsmen out for just 117 in 19.4 overs.

The Amazon Warriors, last year’s runners-up, needed only 14.1 overs to reach 118 for four, with Shai Hope producing the decisive innings, a composed unbeaten 56 that carried Guyana safely across the finish line.

For the Kingsmen, it was a third consecutive defeat and another missed opportunity to break their duck. They remain winless after three matches and sit at the bottom of the seven-team standings.

Early wickets put Jamaica on the back foot

After suffering two narrow losses to begin their campaign, the Kingsmen entered Thursday’s contest desperate for a response.

Instead, their innings unraveled almost immediately.

Khary Pierre struck in the third over, trapping Shayan Jahangir for just three runs and leaving Jamaica with only three runs on the board. Keacy Carty followed soon afterward, bowled by Shamar Joseph for five.

At the end of the PowerPlay, the Kingsmen were struggling at 26 for two, with the Amazon Warriors already dictating the tempo.

Reeza Hendricks offered some resistance, compiling a patient 40 from 32 deliveries. But when he attempted to accelerate, he chipped Tahir’s delivery straight back to the spinner, departing at 61 for three halfway through the innings.

Nabi takes control

From there, Guyana’s spin attack tightened the screws.

Nabi removed Hassan Khan for one before Tahir produced the key breakthrough of Rovman Powell, dismissing the Kingsmen captain for 24 and reducing Jamaica to 77 for five.

Then came Nabi’s decisive assault on the lower order.

The Player of the Match claimed Andre Russell, Keemo Paul and Hunain Shah in rapid succession, completing a four-wicket haul and ending the innings with two balls still remaining.

Nabi finished with superb figures of 4-22, while Shamar Joseph took 2-22 and Tahir added 2-26.

The Kingsmen had managed only 117, a total that offered Guyana little margin for concern.

Blades provides early hope

The Amazon Warriors did not begin their chase smoothly either.

Jediah Blades gave the home crowd reason to believe when he had Mavendra Dindyal caught behind for a duck from only the second ball of the innings.

But Hope and Glenn Phillips quickly restored order.

The pair combined for 43 during a five-over stand, putting Guyana firmly back in command.

Russell briefly swung momentum toward the Kingsmen in his first over, however, removing Phillips for 28 and then Shimron Hetmyer, who was caught at backward point. With the Warriors reduced to 45 for three after six overs, the chase suddenly carried a hint of uncertainty.

Hope ends the contest

That was as close as Jamaica would come to turning the match around.

Hope remained composed, mixing patience with power as he struck four sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 56 from 41 balls.

He found an ideal partner in Nabi, and together they added 51 to push Guyana within sight of victory.

Nabi eventually departed with 22 still required, but Quentin Sampson settled alongside Hope and ensured there would be no late drama.

Sampson finished unbeaten on 13, while Hope stayed at the crease to complete a comfortable six-wicket victory.

For the Amazon Warriors, it was an ideal opening statement from last season’s losing finalists. For the Kingsmen, the search for their first win continues, and with every defeat, the pressure grows.