Akeal Hosein and Andre Russell bagged three wickets each as Guyana Amazon Warriors were bundled out for 124, and handed Trinbago Knight Riders a 26-run win at the Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday, ending their three-match losing streak.
With That Win, Trinbago Knight Riders have now jumped to 4th place in the POINTS TABLE with 5 points from 6 matches. Guyana Amazon Warriors have slipped to last on POINTS TABLE with just 1 victory from 5 games in CPL 2022. Barbados Royals with clean slate of 6 wins in 6 matches are dominating the points table.
The Amazon Warriors won the toss and opted to field first and they produced a disciplined performance with the ball that kept the Knight Riders in check throughout.
Led by Tabraiz Shamsi’s 4/36, wickets were taken at regular intervals to ensure that no batter ever felt comfortable at the crease as the Knight Riders reached 150/8.
Needing 151 to win the Amazon Warriors got off to the worst possible start losing three wickets in total in the power play.
Shimron Hetmyer and Colin Ingram briefly threatened to take the game away from the Knight Riders but when Andre Russell removed Hetmyer the collapse began and the remaining Amazon Warriors batters fell for just 26 runs.
Earlier on the Knight Riders had constructed their best total of the Hero CPL campaign courtesy of a well-compiled 42 from Colin Munro.
Brilliant from this man tonight @Russell12A #TKRvGAW #CPL22 #BiggestPartyInSport #CricketPlayedLouder pic.twitter.com/OUKNNQWCvn
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 15, 2022
Munro combined with Tim Siefert to compile a 51-run partnership that set a foundation for some late order risk taking.
Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Ravi Rampaul hit a combined five sixes to help the Knight Riders set a total of 150 runs that always appeared as if it would be tricky to chase.
This proved to be the case in the Amazon Warrior reply. No batter was able to face more than 20 deliveries and despite reaching 81/4 in the 10th over.
The Amazon Warriors lost their remaining six wickets for 43 runs to succumb to a heavy defeat.
The returning Akeal Hosein proved to be crucial in the Knight Riders bowling attack taking 3/36 and he was ably supported by the parsimonious Andre Russell (3/16) and Sunil Narine (2/9).
Shimron Hetmyer: “Sometimes these things happen, I take full responsibility, as a captain I should’ve taken the team home but it’s a learning curve. I’m fine, will put some ice on it, get ready for the next game [on his injury]. We are taking it one game at a time, not looking too far ahead. Lot of learning from here, as batters myself included we have to make sure we cross the line.”
Kieron Pollard: “They deserve a victory tonight. They were the 12th man for us and thanks for the supoort [on the crowd tonight]. We spoke in the dressing room, we have not been playing well but the guys wanted it badly. Total team effort, finally got the win at home. Hopefully we can go and look back on what we can do better and prepare for our games at the Brian Lara stadium coming up. Well played to the guys, Hosein coming back and showing his mettle afer being hit for those 3 sixes and Narine is a joy for any captain to have in the side. And loved the intent from Munro, we have spoken about the intent and he showed it today.”
Sunil Narine | Player of the Match: “Just build a partnership and take it as deep as possible for Pollard to come and execute what he does best. Set up the game in the powerplay and then ask the spinners to do their thing was the talk during the innings break. Whatever the team needs, I try to deliver. Thanks to the supporters, we are not winning games, but your support is needed.”
Brief scores: Trinbago Knight Riders: 150/8 (Munro 42, Seifert 27; Shamsi 4/36, Shepherd 3/22) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 124 all out (Hemraj 28, Hetmyer 20; Russell 3/16, Hosein 3/36) by 26 runs.