CPL: Two-in-Two! Hetmyer’s salvo keeps Warriors unbeaten

By Akeem Greene

Guyana Amazon Warriors maintained a winning record at home in the seventh edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after they brushed aside St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the National Stadium, Providence, Saturday evening.

In pursuit of 154, Shimron Hetmyer blazed to an unbeaten 70 (7x4s; 3x6s) from 47 balls which made it two-from-two at home thus far for Warriors.

Himself and Shoaib Malik teamed up for an unbroken 64-run partnership of 41 balls, which sealed the dominant victory with eight balls remaining.

Unlike the struggle of Patriots in their Powerplay, Warriors hammered 10 boundaries in that phase as compared to three by Patriots.

They were courtesy of clean hitting from openers Chandrapaul Hemraj and Brandon King, who both pounced on anything marginally off target to reach 55-0 in six.

There was one instance where Hemraj rocked back and slapped Mohammad Hafeez through point which erupted loud cheers from the capacity audience.

Hemraj’s mixture of aggression and style was the highlight of his 24-ball 39 (5x4s; 2x6s) and it took a flying catch from Fabian Allen to dislodge him after he begun peppering Carlos Brathwaite.

Hetmyer, who tormented Patriots when they last visited these shores, creamed Brathwaite for back-to-back boundaries to get his innings pumping.

King did not capitalise on a dropped chance in his 22-ball 27 (3x4s; 1×6). At the half way stage Warriors were coasting at 82-1.

In the 14th over, there was a bit of déjà vu in the Hetmyer versus Alzarri Joseph. The over went 1, 4,4, 6,1,0. In 2018, Hetmyer smoked his West Indies teammate for 20 with some brutal hitting.

He reached his landmark from 35 balls, while Malik played second fiddle to end unbeaten on 23. Hetmyer deposited Rayad Emrit over mid-wicket for six to end the match.

A struggle for Patriots

Chris Green and Shadab Khan bowled five of the Powerplay overs, which limited Patriots to 31-2 despite the good charm they were granted. In a 16-run over, the second of the match, Keemo Paul uprooted the stumps of Kjorn Ottely when he was just on seven, but it was a no-ball.

The mishap was not costly, with him only adding eight before he was run-out. Evin Lewis, who batted in a most unconventional manner, slapped Khan straight down the throat of mid-wicket.

In came Devon Thomas, whose workmanlike 49-ball 62 propped them to a competitive total. The most meaningful stance came with Hafeez, adding 54 for the third which helped them to 61-2 at the halfway mark. The Pakistani batted below tempo but his presence allowed Thomas to take more risks.

Brathwaite promoted himself in the order but failed to make any impact on the score, falling to a well-judged catch by Brandon King at short mid-wicket which brought Paul his only success on an expensive night.

With Patriots at 91-4 in 15 overs, Thomas and Allen then teed off, helping plunder 62 off the last five overs.

Thomas struck back-to-back sixes to reach his second CPL fifty off 44 balls then Allen cashed in on some wayward bowling by Ben Laughlin.

Thomas’ fine innings ended by a work of brilliance in the outfield by Khan. He dived to his left and completed an excellent diving catch. Thomas had muscled seven fours and two maximums.

Allen kept the hitting act on track, smashing Romario Shepherd for six then Laughlin before the latter got his man in the final over. Joseph ended the innings with consecutive boundaries off Laughlin.

Warriors will suit up for their final home match on the first leg against Barbados Tridents on Sunday from 17:00h.