Shai Hope and Mohammad Nabi starred for the Guyana Amazon Warriors as they handed the Jamaica Kingsmen their third consecutive defeat in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The Amazon Warriors cruised to a comfortable six-wicket victory at Sabina Park, chasing down a modest target of 118 with plenty to spare. Hope anchored the chase with a composed unbeaten 56, while the Warriors remained patient and bided their time before putting the result beyond doubt.
Earlier, the Kingsmen were once again skittled, this time for just 117 after being sent in to bat. Reeza Hendricks offered the only real resistance at the top of the order with a solid 40, while captain Rovman Powell provided his usual spark, smashing two sixes in a 17-ball 24.
The Kingsmen struggled to build any momentum from the outset, with Shahan Jahangir again unable to provide a solid start as the PowerPlay ended with the home side struggling at 26 for 2. Hendricks’ failure to kick on and produce a match-changing innings proved costly, as Imran Tahir’s Warriors attack continued to turn the screw.
Nabi was at the heart of the collapse, claiming an impressive 4 for 22 during a spin-dominated middle-overs spell that sucked the life out of the Kingsmen innings. The Warriors’ bowlers kept the pressure on, picking up wickets at regular intervals to ensure the home side never found a platform from which to launch.
The Warriors, meanwhile, lost Mavendra Dindyal inside the first over of their chase, but experienced campaigner Glenn Phillips quickly settled things down at the top of the order. His assured approach helped put the visitors firmly in control during the PowerPlay.
With Hope calmly biding his time and useful contributions from Nabi and Quentin Simpson, the Warriors comfortably completed the chase of 118 and made the perfect start to their CPL campaign.
Andre Russell’s 2 for 12 was a bright spot for the Kingsmen, but it was not enough to prevent the Warriors from soaring to the top of the points table.
