The Guyana Amazon Warriors maintained their impressive form with a hard-fought nine-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method against the Trinbago Knight Riders at Queen’s Park Oval. The match, reduced to 16 overs per side due to inclement weather, was defined by a spectacular individual performance from Shimron Hetmyer, whose unbeaten century set the stage for a competitive total of 185 for 5.
A Rain-Interrupted Innings
Batting first, the Warriors faced immediate pressure from Akeal Hosein, who conceded only a single run in the opening over while dismissing Glenn Phillips. Sunil Narine maintained the stranglehold, and although Shai Hope managed two sixes, his dismissal by Lahiru Kumara in the fourth over left the Warriors in a precarious position. A significant rain delay lasting over 90 minutes halted proceedings, but the break proved to be the turning point for Hetmyer.
Hetmyer’s Explosive Surge
- Hetmyer dominated the middle overs, hitting consecutive sixes off Jyd Goolie and punishing Kumara with a flurry of boundaries.
- Matthew Nundu, struggling to find rhythm, was retired out after scoring 13 runs from 21 balls to make way for more aggressive hitters.
- Hetmyer reached his half-century in just 27 balls before launching a brutal assault on Kumara in the 13th over, yielding 30 runs.
- Romario Shepherd provided vital support, dismantling Dominic Drakes for 27 runs in the 15th over.
- The innings culminated in Hetmyer reaching his century with a final-over six, pushing the Warriors to an imposing 185/5.
Knight Riders’ Collapse and Failed Pursuit
Chasing an adjusted target of 182, the Knight Riders—missing captain Kieron Pollard due to injury—started brightly. Despite losing Narine early, Colin Munro and Nicholas Pooran combined for a rapid 35-run partnership. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Mohammad Nabi entered the attack. Following the Powerplay, the Knight Riders suffered a catastrophic collapse, plummeting from 52/1 to 68/5 in just three overs as Nabi dismantled the middle order.
Alex Hales attempted to anchor the chase, forming a 43-run alliance with Hosein and a 39-run stand with Drakes. With 40 runs required from the final 12 balls, Hales departed immediately after securing his half-century. Although Joshua Da Silva struck late boundaries to keep the dream alive, the Knight Riders ultimately fell short, unable to bridge the 24-run gap required in the final over. The Warriors’ disciplined bowling, spearheaded by Nabi’s 3-20, ensured they successfully defended their total to secure the win. The report also notes that a century from Shimron Hetmyer helped the Warriors post a sizable 185 in a rain-curtailed 16-over contest. The report also notes that delaying proceedings by more than 90 minutes, rain then intervened.
