PROVIDENCE, Guyana – Half centuries from Shimron Hetmyer and Quentin Sampson along with a five-wicket haul by spinner Gudakesh Motie carried the Guyana Amazon Warriors to a comfortable 64-run win over the Barbados Royals and a top two finish in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here on Sunday.
Gudakesh Motie grabbed five wickets against the Barbados RoyalsRequiring a victory to leapfrog the Trinbago Knight Riders and an opportunity to play against defending champions Saint Lucia Kings in the all-important Qualifier, the Amazon Warriors made light work of the last-placed Royals at Providence Stadium.
After being sent in, Hetmyer cracked 68 off just 39 balls and opener Quentin Sampson smashed 50 off 36 balls, his second straight half century, as the home side amassed 189 for six in 20 overs.
Motie then wrecked havoc on the Royals’ lower order, grabbing 5-21 to help dismiss them for a paltry 125 in 18.2 overs.
Apart from opener Ben McDermott who was run out for just two, the Amazon Warriors received good contributions from their top order batters.
Following his dismissal, Sampson and Shai Hope, who scored 31 off 19 balls, put on 53 runs for the second wicket to carry the score to 64 for one after eight overs.
And when Zishan Motara claimed Hope’s wicket, his first in the CPL, Sampson and Hetmyer added 50 runs to maintain the momentum.
Sampson brought up his half century off 35 balls with a single off Sherfane Rutherford, but two balls later he was back in the pavilion after skying a catch to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock off the same bowler.
Romario Shepherd then shared a 40-run partnership in four overs with Hetmyer to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the Amazon Warriors, before the former was bowled by Daniel Sams for 20.
Hetmyer ended a lean run of form by notching his 15th CPL half century off 32 balls and then proceeded to smash four boundaries off the next seven balls he faced.
However, he was dismissed by Rutherford in the final over after being caught at long on attempting to hit him out of the ground.
In all he hit eight fours and three sixes.
Rutherford was the Royals’ best bowler with 2-35.
The Royals’ run chase never really got off the ground after they lost openers de Kock and Kadeem Alleyne along with Rassie van der Dussen inside the Power Play to slump to 28 for three.
Shaqkere Parris and Sherfane Rutherford tried their best to repair the damage in a 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but once the latter was trapped lbw by Shamar Joseph for the top score of 27, the innings unraveled.
Motie then added the finishing touches by accounting for the wickets of Parris for 15, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Kofie James and Motara.
He received good support from Dwaine Pretorius who took 2-29.
The Eliminator match between the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons and Knight Riders will be played on Tuesday, with the Qualifier scheduled to be played on Wednesday. CMC
