Warriors storm to the top after seven-wicket rout of Kings
Key Points(5)
- The Guyana Amazon Warriors tightened their grip on the top of the table and extended their growing winning streak with a composed seven-wicket victory over the St.
- Lucia Kings, combining disciplined bowling with a late burst of batting power to complete another impressive triumph.
- After restricting the Kings to 151-7 from their 20 overs, the Warriors overcame a brief rain interruption and powered to 157-3 in 18.1 overs to seal their second consecutive victory and continue building momentum as the season gathers pace.
- Pretorius and Joseph lead the squeeze The Warriors set the tone with the ball, preventing St.
- Lucia from establishing sustained momentum and repeatedly breaking partnerships before the Kings could accelerate.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors tightened their grip on the top of the table and extended their growing winning streak with a composed seven-wicket victory over the St. Lucia Kings, combining disciplined bowling with a late burst of batting power to complete another impressive triumph.
After restricting the Kings to 151-7 from their 20 overs, the Warriors overcame a brief rain interruption and powered to 157-3 in 18.1 overs to seal their second consecutive victory and continue building momentum as the season gathers pace.
Pretorius and Joseph lead the squeeze
The Warriors set the tone with the ball, preventing St. Lucia from establishing sustained momentum and repeatedly breaking partnerships before the Kings could accelerate.
Dwaine Pretorius was the standout performer, tearing through the middle order to claim 3-29, while Guyanese fast bowler Shamar Joseph produced another sharp spell, taking 2-25.
Captain Imran Tahir added 1-22, and Romario Shepherd finished with 1-26 as Guyana's attack worked collectively to keep the Kings under pressure.
Charith Asalanka led St. Lucia's batting with 35, while Kamil Pooran contributed 19. Darren Nedd made 17, Roston Chase scored 14, Matthew Forde struck a quick 14 from seven deliveries, and Ackeem Auguste added 13.
But none of the Kings' batters managed to produce the substantial innings needed to lift the total beyond the Warriors' reach.
Joseph's pace and variations proved particularly difficult to handle during the closing stages, while Pretorius and the rest of the attack ensured St. Lucia finished on 151-7.
Dindyal anchors the chase
Following a period of uncertainty caused by rain, the Warriors returned to their pursuit of 152 with their intentions firmly intact.
Openers Glenn Phillips and Mavendra Dindyal provided the platform, with Phillips contributing 36 before Dindyal assumed responsibility for carrying the innings deeper into the chase.
The Guyanese batter struck an unbeaten 50 from 51 deliveries, an innings featuring five fours and two sixes.
His measured knock gave the Warriors the stability they needed, even as St. Lucia sought a way back into the contest.
Shai Hope added 17, while Maheesh Theekshana provided the Kings' most effective bowling figures with 2-33.
Hetmyer and Sampson finish in a frenzy
Once the foundation had been laid, the Warriors shifted dramatically through the gears.
Shimron Hetmyer unleashed a blistering unbeaten 26 from only 11 balls, hammering four fours and a six, while Quentin Sampson added an unbeaten 13, including two sixes.
Together, the pair produced a breathtaking finishing assault.
The duo plundered 36 runs from only nine balls, turning the closing stages into a barrage of boundaries and rapidly erasing what remained of the target.
Fours and sixes flowed as the Warriors transformed a controlled chase into an emphatic finish, reaching 157-3 with 11 balls remaining.
The victory not only delivered a second straight win but also lifted the Guyana Amazon Warriors to the top of the standings.
With their bowling unit clicking and their batting capable of accelerating at will, the Warriors are beginning to establish exactly the kind of momentum that could make them increasingly difficult to stop as the season intensifies.
