By Avenash Ramzan
In a thrilling low-scoring affair, Guyana Amazon Warriors defeated Jamaica Tallawahs by seven wickets to remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League.
Playing in front of almost capacity crowd at the National Stadium, Providence, Tallawahs never recovered from the early loss of talisman Chris Gayle without scoring, posting a below-par 100 all out off 18 overs.
Despite a top-order wobble, the Amazon Warriors achieved the target with exactly two overs to spare, thanks to some aggressive batting from Chris Lynn and Anthony Bramble.
The Warriors started the chase slowly, losing the openers in the space of three deliveries, both to left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, who was impressive on a typical slow and low track at Providence.
Skipper Martin Guptill (5) was the first to go, lobbing a simple catch to Andre McCarthy at wide mid-off, before Dwayne Smith (4) was outfoxed by one that spun back sharply from outside off-stump and he was bowled. At 11-2 after four overs, the Warriors were in a spot of bother, but Australian Lynn and the in-form Jason Mohammed added 42 in almost 10 overs to stabilise proceedings.
Mohammed’s (22) departure though, in the 14th over, leg before to another left-armer Shakib Al Hasan, left the game delicately poised, and with 47 required off the last six overs, it was anyone’s game.
However, Lynn and Bramble launched a counter-attack, blazing 48 off just 4.4 overs to steal the game from the Tallawahs. Bramble, who was in a no-nonsense mood, struck 27 off 18 balls, inclusive of two sixes and a four, while Lynn, who held the innings together, finished on a polished 39 off 35 deliveries (1×4, 3x6s).
The loss of Gayle for a golden duck off the second ball of the match sent the crowd in a frenzy, as Sohail Tanvir trapped the left-hander on the pad. It was the perfect start for the Warriors, as Gayle had come off a brutal 108* against the Trinbago Knight Riders last game.
Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul then struck a telling double blow in the fifth over, removing Kumar Sangakkara for nine and Chadwick Walton for 12. Shakib and Rovman Powell then set about to repair the damage, adding 51 in 47 balls, but it was the only partnership of substance, as the remaining six wickets tumbled for 25 runs.
Powell topscored with 34 (42 balls), while Shakib made 25 off 23. That the Tallawahs had only three fours and three sixes in their innings was indicative of the stranglehold the Warriors bowlers had on the match.
Man-of-the-Match Veerasammy Permaul ended with career-best figures of 3-20, while Tanvir (2-11), Rayad Emrit (2-17) and Adam Zampa (2-26) were also among the wickets. The bowlers were well supported in the field, with Mohammed leading the way with three splendid catches outside the 30-yard circle.
Amazon Warriors, with three wins from three, and now with sole possession of the number one spot on the points table, will face the St Kitts Patriots and the Trinbago Knight Riders at the weekend at Providence, while Tallawahs travel to Barbados to face host Barbados Tridents on Monday.
Cover photo caption: The shot that sealed the win! Anthony Bramble goes aerial off the bowling of Rovman Powell to hand the Amazon Warriors a third victory this season (Avenash Ramzan photos)
