The Guyana Amazon Warriors delivered a commanding 83-run victory over the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in North Sound, with veteran spinner Imran Tahir producing a five-wicket demolition job in the 9th match of the Caribbean Premier League.
After posting an imposing 211 for 3, the Warriors watched their 46-year-old captain roll back the years with figures of 5 for 21 – his best-ever CPL performance – to bowl out the Falcons for just 128 in 15.2 overs.
The Falcons started their chase of 212 aggressively, racing to 58 runs inside four overs. However, both openers fell in the process, with Rahkeem Cornwall and Jewel Andrew dismissed by Dwaine Pretorius. Karima Gore kept the momentum going with a quick-fire 31 off 14 balls, but once Romario Shepherd removed him in the fifth over, the wheels came off.
Tahir entered the attack in the seventh over and immediately struck gold with a double-wicket maiden, removing Shakib Al Hasan and captain Imad Wasim with his trademark googlies. The Falcons collapsed from 77 for 3 to 116 for 8, losing five wickets for just 39 runs as Tahir’s flight and spin proved too much to handle.
Earlier, the Warriors had built their total around a brilliant 106-run partnership between Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer. Hope anchored the innings with 82 off 54 balls, starting cautiously with 33 off his first 32 deliveries before exploding for 49 runs off the next 22 balls after the 11th over.
Hetmyer provided the fireworks with a blistering 65 off just 26 balls, smashing five sixes and five fours in a display of clean hitting. The pair added 106 runs in just 44 balls to set up the big total.
Rain interrupted play for nearly an hour after 5.5 overs, but the Warriors maintained their momentum. Shepherd capped off the innings with an unbeaten 25 off eight balls, helping his side plunder 145 runs in the final nine overs, including 41 in the last two.
The comprehensive win moved the Amazon Warriors to second place on the table with two victories from two matches. The Falcons remain top despite the heavy defeat, having won two of their five games so far with one match abandoned.
The Falcons have talent, no doubt, but they need more discipline in the middle overs. You can’t win CPL games losing five wickets in a hurry like that.
Start good finish bad?
My dollar is on the Amazon Warriors. Let’s call a spade a spade. They have the best arsenal and fighters for this CPL encounter. Go Amazons! 🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬
I think they gave that game away
Antigua and barbuda live to fight another day.
Falcons need to rethink their batting order, looked completely lost against spin.
For every win someone must fail. And this time we failed so we celebrate with the one who won