In a dramatic finish, the Guyana Amazon Warriors secured a stunning last-ball victory over the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, thanks to a brilliant cameo from South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius. The match, held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, was a rollercoaster of emotions as both teams fought hard in a game that swung back and forth until the very last delivery.
For the second consecutive night, the Falcons found themselves on the losing end of a last-ball thriller. After recovering from a shaky start, the Falcons posted a competitive total of 168/6, despite strong bowling from Gudakesh Motie, who was instrumental in restricting their momentum. The Amazon Warriors, in turn, faced their own struggles with the bat, and with 47 runs required from the final 18 balls, it looked as though the Falcons were heading for a win.
However, Pretorius had other plans. With nerves of steel, he and the Warriors’ lower order managed to pull off an incredible chase, culminating in Pretorius hitting a six off the final ball to secure a three-wicket victory.
The match began with the Amazon Warriors winning the toss and electing to field. They claimed an early breakthrough when Teddy Bishop was run out by a superb piece of fielding from Shai Hope, leaving the Falcons at 10/1 after two overs. Fakhar Zaman and Kofi James then built a crucial 73-run partnership, accelerating the run rate to nearly 10 an over.
But the Falcons’ middle order collapsed, losing four wickets for just 29 runs, with Motie leading the charge. He bowled Sam Billings with a clever delivery and then had the young Jewel Andrew caught in the deep, as the 17-year-old attempted to hit consecutive sixes.
Imad Wasim played a key counter-attacking role, scoring 40 off 21 balls, to help the Falcons recover from their slump and post a defendable total.
In response, the Amazon Warriors promoted Motie to open the innings, but he was quickly dismissed for 6. The Falcons’ spinners tightened the screws during the middle overs, increasing the pressure on the Warriors. Shimron Hetmyer tried to anchor the innings but was bowled by Imad Wasim. When Azam Khan was dismissed after a freak incident where he hit his stumps with his bat, the Warriors were struggling at 77/4.
Shai Hope, last year’s Player of the Tournament, kept the Warriors in the hunt with a gritty 41, but when he was bowled in the death overs, the required run rate soared past 15 an over, leaving the Warriors’ hopes hanging by a thread.
Enter Dwaine Pretorius. The South African all-rounder took control in the final over, smashing 18 runs off the last six balls to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. His final-ball six sent the Warriors’ fans into a frenzy as they celebrated the most dramatic of wins to kick off their title defense.
Brief Scores:
- Antigua and Barbuda Falcons: 168/6 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 40, Imad Wasim 40; Gudakesh Motie 3/25)
- Guyana Amazon Warriors: 171/7 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 41, Romario Shepherd 32; Imad Wasim 2/28, Chris Green 2/32)
Result: Guyana Amazon Warriors won by 3 wickets.
Player of the Match: Gudakesh Motie (Guyana Amazon Warriors)
This thrilling start to the Warriors’ campaign sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting 2024 CPL season, with the defending champions showing they have the grit and determination to fight until the very end.
