Powell’s late assault sends Kingsmen into CPL final despite Hetmyer hundred
Key Points(5)
- Rovman Powell produced a devastating late-innings charge to carry Jamaica Kingsmen into the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, overturning a magnificent unbeaten century from Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Shimron Hetmyer in a thrilling Qualifier 2 showdown in Bridgetown on Friday.
- Hetmyer was sensational, blasting 102 not out from just 45 balls as Amazon Warriors recovered from a difficult start to post 206 for four.
- But Kingsmen refused to be overwhelmed.
- Maaz Sadaqat, Kirk McKenzie, Keacy Carty and Saim Ayub built the foundation before Powell seized control of the chase, smashing 40 from 17 balls to propel the tournament newcomers to victory.
- Powell shared the Player-of-the-Match award with Hetmyer after his finishing assault ensured Kingsmen completed the highest successful chase of their inaugural CPL campaign.
Rovman Powell produced a devastating late-innings charge to carry Jamaica Kingsmen into the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, overturning a magnificent unbeaten century from Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Shimron Hetmyer in a thrilling Qualifier 2 showdown in Bridgetown on Friday.
Hetmyer was sensational, blasting 102 not out from just 45 balls as Amazon Warriors recovered from a difficult start to post 206 for four.
But Kingsmen refused to be overwhelmed.
Maaz Sadaqat, Kirk McKenzie, Keacy Carty and Saim Ayub built the foundation before Powell seized control of the chase, smashing 40 from 17 balls to propel the tournament newcomers to victory.
Powell shared the Player-of-the-Match award with Hetmyer after his finishing assault ensured Kingsmen completed the highest successful chase of their inaugural CPL campaign.
The result sends Kingsmen into Sunday’s final against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.
Powell takes over when the pressure peaks
Kingsmen’s pursuit of 207 appeared to be entering dangerous territory when Ayub was dismissed in the 16th over.
They were 152 for three, still requiring 55 runs from 29 balls.
Powell walked in and initially took his time. Then the acceleration began.
He attacked Khary Pierre in the 17th over, launching two sixes from the first four deliveries. Carty was run out during the same over for a superb 56 from 40 balls, but Powell’s momentum was already carrying the chase.
He then cleared the ropes against Imran Tahir before taking aim at Shamar Joseph in the 19th over.
A four followed by a six against Joseph’s inaccurate yorkers left Kingsmen within touching distance of the target.
Even Andre Russell’s struggle, two runs from five balls, could not derail them.
With only four runs required from four deliveries after Russell became the fifth wicket, Hassan Khan finished the job with consecutive twos.
A chase built on partnerships
Powell supplied the finishing explosion, but Kingsmen’s victory had been constructed through a series of productive partnerships.
Sadaqat and McKenzie immediately put pressure on the Warriors attack, racing to 42 in only three overs.
Sadaqat, who had smashed a century in Kingsmen’s previous match, was eventually deceived by Dwaine Pretorius’ slower delivery.
McKenzie then combined with Carty for another 48 from 32 balls before Imran Tahir removed McKenzie.
Carty subsequently found an effective partner in Ayub, with the pair adding 62 in just 41 deliveries.
When Ayub departed, the equation stood at 55 from 29 balls.
Powell took responsibility from there.
Before his arrival, Kingsmen had needed consistency. Once he found his range, they needed only power.
Hetmyer produces a spectacular rescue act
For much of the first innings, Amazon Warriors appeared unlikely to reach a competitive total.
Mohammad Haris and Mavendra Dindyal were both gone inside five overs.
Haris was run out by a sharp throw from Hassan Khan at mid-on, while Hassan then removed Dindyal, who was caught at deep square leg.
Then Hetmyer changed everything.
His third-wicket partnership with Shai Hope produced 96 runs, with Hetmyer responsible for 55 of them from only 23 deliveries. Hope supplied 38 from 27 balls, continuing his role as the stabilizing presence in the Warriors middle order.
Hetmyer did not relent after Hope departed.
He added another 65 with Quentin Sampson, who struck 29 from 17 balls, keeping Amazon Warriors on course for a substantial total.
A century that deserved a different ending
Hetmyer reached his hundred with the final delivery of the innings, slicing Russell over short third for four.
The 102 not out came from 45 balls and marked his second century of the season and third in CPL history.
It also appeared to have rescued Amazon Warriors from another batting collapse.
Instead, it became the centerpiece of a losing effort.
The Warriors had entered the playoffs as the league-stage leaders after winning eight of their 10 matches, but their form had deteriorated sharply at the business end of the competition.
They were bowled out for 99 by Barbados Tridents in their final league match, then collapsed to 76 against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in Qualifier 1.
Hetmyer’s extraordinary counterattack appeared to have halted that slide.
Instead, Friday’s defeat made it three consecutive losses, and the most damaging of the three, because it eliminated the table-toppers from the title race.
Debutants now one win from history
Kingsmen’s victory caps an extraordinary first CPL season and sends the franchise into Sunday’s championship game against Falcons.
Their route to the final was not built around one dominant innings.
It came through contributions across the batting order, before Powell delivered the decisive burst when the pressure was at its highest.
Hetmyer had given Amazon Warriors a total that demanded an exceptional chase.
Powell supplied one.
Now the CPL’s newest franchise is one victory away from turning its debut season into a championship campaign.
