Warriors stun TKR to seal CPL playoff spot

Guyana Amazon Warriors secured their place in the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playoffs with a 37-run win over Trinbago Knight Riders on Saturday evening.

Trinbago Knight Riders won the toss and chose to field in this must-win game, with Amazon Warriors opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz giving the fans at Providence stadium a spectacle, scoring 60 from 42 balls to ignite the Warrior’s innings and help take them to 173-6.

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In their chase, the Trinbago Knight Riders built a steady opening partnership through Tim Seifert and Colin Munro, but wickets then fell throughout their innings as the Amazon Warriors were spurred on by a vocal home crowd. The Knight Riders finished 136 all out and lost by 37 runs.

Guyana Amazon Warriors suffered an early setback in their innings as Ravi Rampaul showed his effectiveness in the Powerplay by taking the wicket of Chandrapaul Hemraj.

Gurbaz would then play some spectacular shots to accelerate the run rate. Sunil Narine, who did not bowl until the 12th over, would claw the Knight Riders back into the game by taking the key wickets of Shakib Al Hasan and Romario Shepherd.

A remarkable late blitz from Odean Smith, scoring 23 runs from seven balls, would then catapult the Warriors to 173-6.

Trinbago Knight Riders had a good start in their chase, Seifert and Munro keeping up with the run rate, but led by Shakib, the Warriors fought back to take wickets, including some spectacular fielding to dismiss Nicholas Pooran.

Once captain Kieron Pollard was out stumped, the Knight Riders faced an uphill battle and finished on 136 all out.

The result means that Trinbago Knight Riders have been eliminated from playoff contention. (CPL)