PROVIDENCE, Guyana — In a nail-biting encounter that reinvigorated the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League, the Rangpur Riders pulled off a breathtaking 15-run triumph over the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Wednesday at Providence Stadium.
This long-awaited victory catapulted the Riders from the bottom of the standings and reignited their campaign in electrifying fashion.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, Riders captain Nurul Hasan faced an early onslaught as the Warriors’ bowlers wreaked havoc. Dwaine Pretorius led the charge with an incisive spell of 3-15, leaving the Riders reeling at a disastrous 14 for 4 and then 27 for 5. The batting order appeared shattered, but what followed was nothing short of heroic.
Khushdil Shah leads a bold revival
Amid the rubble of the Riders’ innings, Khushdil Shah emerged as the savior. His commanding knock of 58 off 47 deliveries, punctuated by four towering sixes and two precise boundaries, injected life into a faltering innings. Captain Hasan offered a vital yet understated 15 off 26 balls, helping guide the team to a competitive total of 117.
Warriors’ chase derailed by fiery bowling
The Amazon Warriors’ reply began disastrously as Kamrul Islam Rabbi delivered a dream opening spell, removing Shimron Hetmyer for a golden duck. With Moeen Ali and Pretorius falling cheaply, the Warriors crumbled to 7 for 3 under unrelenting pressure.
Shai Hope sought to steady the ship with a calm and calculated 35 off 44 balls, but his lone resistance was not enough to shield the hosts from calamity. A mirror image of the Riders’ earlier collapse unfolded as the Warriors slumped to 27 for 5, their chances hanging by a thread.
Final overs deliver heart-stopping drama
With 16 runs needed off the final over, the tension reached a fever pitch. Romario Shepherd sparked brief hopes with a blistering six in the penultimate over but fell to Rabbi on the first ball of the final over, sealing the Riders’ astonishing win.
The Warriors were eventually bowled out for 102, as Rishad Hossain and Rabbi delivered sensational spells, punctuating the Riders’ emphatic bowling performance.
The Amazon Warriors now find themselves in a precarious position, needing a combination of results from Thursday’s doubleheader to keep their hopes alive. For the Riders, this victory is more than a morale boost—it is a signal to the rest of the competition that their resolve is unyielding.
Quotable moments
Captain Nurul Hasan reflected on the win: “It was a tough game, but the team showed character. Khushdil’s innings was brilliant, and the bowlers stepped up when it mattered most.”
Pretorius, despite his bowling heroics, lamented the missed opportunity for the Warriors: “We had the game in our hands, but credit to the Riders for fighting till the end.”
