The second match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 between the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons and the Guyana Amazon Warriors was a thrilling encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
The game came down to the very last ball, with the Warriors pulling off a dramatic win.
Shimron Hetmyer Failed to Construct On His Innings
In the 10th over of the second innings, a pivotal moment in the match came when the experienced Imad Wasim dismissed Shimron Hetmyer, who was looking to anchor the Warrior’s innings. The ball was pitched on a good length, that angled into the middle stump with some extra pace.
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Hetmyer went deep in his crease and tried to work the ball onto the leg side. However, he closed the bat face too early and completely missed the delivery.
The ball crashed into the stumps, sending Hetmyer back to the pavilion and giving the Falcons a crucial breakthrough. This moment of brilliance from Imad Wasim was a key point in the match, adding to the tension as the game progressed to its dramatic conclusion.
Amazon Warriors Showcased Their Strength To End The Match With A Dramatic Finish
Earlier in the match, the Warriors’ skipper Imran Tahir won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Falcons had an early setback when Teddy Bishop was run out by a sharp direct hit from Shai Hope.
After losing the wicket of the opener early, Fakhar Zaman made a valuable contribution and scored 40 runs off 33 balls and Kofi James scored 37 off 24 balls.
The duo stitched together a solid 74-run partnership, which stabilised the innings. However, Gudakesh Motie changed the course of the match with his brilliant spell and took 3/25, which caused a middle-order collapse for the Falcons.
Despite the collapse, Imad Wasim played a crucial knock of 40 off 21 balls towards the end, with support from Fabian Allen that helped the Falcons post a competitive total of 168/6 in their 20 overs.
The Warriors got off to a decent start with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shai Hope providing a solid foundation. However, the middle order faltered under pressure, and players like Shimron Hetmyer and Azam Khan failed to perform.
The match was finely balanced until Romario Shepherd stepped up with a blistering 32 off 16 balls, that kept the Warriors in the hunt. Dwaine Pretorius provided the finishing touches and scored an unbeaten 20 off 10 balls.
Despite excellent bowling performances from Chris Green and Imad Wasim, who bowled with discipline, the Falcons couldn’t defend their total, as the Warriors edged out a victory in a nail-biting finish.