By Akeem Greene
Guyana Amazon Warriors have maintained their unbeaten record in the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by comprehensively thumping Barbados Tridents by 47 runs in their third match at the National Stadium, Providence, Sunday evening.
A brutal assault by Nicholas Pooran after Chandrapaul Hemraj played a classy knock of 63 (5x4s, 3x6s) from 55 balls, gallivanted the hosts to a formidable 180-4, which proved to be way out of the reach for the former champions.
Pooran, with a squash-buckling 61 from just 30 balls, inclusive of five maximums and three fours, showcased his full array of shots in a roaring stand with Sherfane Rutherford, which ransacked 72 runs off the last four overs.
Albeit, the bowling was monotonous in the execution of skills, Pooran and Rutherford, who smoked four sixes in his 14-ball 32, made Tridents pay dearly with some clean hitting.
To further exemplify how significant their dashing partnership was, they pulled Warriors from 102-4 in the 16th over to their eventual landmark.
Tridents produced a meek batting response, only reaching 133 in 16.4 overs with Romario Shepherd wreaking havoc with 4-13 in 2.4 overs.
Hemraj on fire
Hemraj continued his fine form, reaching his maiden CPL half-century with a six off Ashley Nurse. Though he was not at his fluent best, he picked his shots smartly and added stability given the loss of key wicket at crucial intervals.
Brandon King was bounced out by Jason Holder and the promising second-wicket stand between Hemraj and Shimron Hetmyer was cut short via a stupendous catch from substitute Hayden Walsh Jr at backward point.
Hetmyer attempted a lofted square drive with the flying Walsh Jr plucked from mid-air. Hetmyer made nine.
They only added 35 in the stand, but it was with a sense of ease which was morphing into something ominous. Shoaib Malik gifted Roshon Primus his second wicket, with a dab to the keeper. It effectively limited Warriors to 63-3 in 10 overs.
Hemraj and Nicholas Pooran added 39 in the next five, with the former reaching his landmark from 45 balls. Looking to up the ante further, Hemraj skied one off the outside edge for a good running catch by Nurse, who made amends for dropping him on 37.
Tridents out of sorts
Marque player Alex Hales was bowled by the part-time spin of Hemraj first ball of the chase.
It was a topsy-turvy Powerplay. Overs four and five yielded 27 runs with Johnson Charles and Leniko Boucher giving the long handle, however, both fell in quick succession.
At 44-3, Malik struck with his first ball, bowling Jonathan Carter off the inside edge. Bad become worse when Jason Holder was inches short due to some good work in the outfield by Keemo Paul.
From 75-6 in the 10th over, Nurse and Primus frustrated the Warriors quest for a swift juggernaut, with an entertaining stand of 44 from 30 balls
Nurse fell for a 25-ball 40 (3x4s,3x6s) to an acrobatic catch by Pooran down the leg side and Raymon Reifer was uprooted first ball. Romario Shepherd was on a hat-trick. He came close to achieving the feat when Joshua Lalor backed away from a full delivery which missed the off-stump by a whisker.
Warriors will now go on the road, with their first match being against St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Saturday, October 14, at Warner Park from 20:00h.
