CPL: Guyana Amazon Warriors pull off last ball win against Hawksbills

Mohammad Hafeez

North Sound (Antigua), Aug 18 (IANS/CMC) Mohammad Hafeez produced some scintillating strokeplay to steer Guyana Amazon Warriors to a nail-biting five-wicket win off the last ball against the Antigua Hawksbills in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Chasing 167 for victory, Hafeez hit a six off the last ball of the match over long on after hitting a six earlier in that same final over here Saturday, reports CMC.

Hafeez ended on 50 not out off a mere 23 balls with two fours and four sixes.

Martin Guptill and Lendl Simmons started briskly for the Warriors but Guptill had to retire hurt while on 19, struck on the hand by a thunderbolt from Sheldon Cotterell having already struck three boundaries.

The first wicket, however, went down with the score on 58, Trevon Griffith caught by Ben Rohrer off the bowling of Gavin Tonge for 15. Simmons went at the same score caught by Cotterell, also off Tonge for 23.

James Franklin and Hafeez then put on 48 for the fourth wicket before Franklin was run out by a direct hit from Ricky Ponting. Franklin’s contribution of 25 came off just 16 balls and he struck one boundary and two sixes. Christopher Barnwell chipped in with a useful 16 as the Warriors rattled up 114 off the last 10 overs. Tonge finished with figures of three for 24 from four overs.

Hawksbills won the toss and decided to bat and came up with their best score of the tournament 166-5 off 20 overs. Kieran Powell with 47 from 45 balls was aggressive from the start hitting four fours and one six. He put on 71 for the second with Marlon Samuels who blazed 43 off 30 balls.

Samuels held out at long on to James Franklin off Christopher Barnwell after hitting two fours and three sixes. Devon Thomas had the dubious distinction of being given out obstructing the field after scorching three sixes in a knock of 30 and Ben Rohrer’s undefeated 25 came off 17 deliveries.

The outcome meant the Hawksbills, joined the Saint Lucia Zouks as the two teams that have missed out on places in the semi-finals, both with four points at the end of their seven matches.

Guyana Amazon Warriors moved to the top of the table with 10 points from their seven games.

–IANS/CMC

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