BY KAYLA KARIM
The Guyana Amazon Warriors faced a similar situation two weekends ago – another CPL finals appearance. This one was a bit different however, due to the historic run that the Warriors managed to execute. The Warriors set a CPL record with the 11-0 run made throughout the T20 Caribbean Premier League earlier this fall, which gave fans hope for the final. Guyana has made it to the final match four times prior to this year and have lost all so this time, considering their incredible winning streak, was almost a given that they would win. However the Barbados Tridents had other plans.
Earlier in the season, in fact a week before the CPL Final match took place; Guyana Amazon Warriors defeated Barbados by posting 218 for 3 thanks to Brandon King’s record century. But what was lost in the Warriors victory was that Barbados didn’t give up, still chasing Guyana and ending on 188. Something that Barbados has been very good at throughout the duration of the season was defending in totals, which resulted into victories.
In the CPL final game, the Amazon Warriors came in very confident as a result of their continued success. It started with the Barbados Tridents opting to bat, with Johnson Charles and Alex Hales creating a 43-run stand before they were then dismissed for 28. Wickets were lost at regular intervals including Charles’ who fell after scoring a quick 22-ball 39. Charles and Hales’ useful contributions as openers let Barbados get off to a really good start along with Jonathan Carter’s 27-ball 50 that evidently lifted Barbados to a score of 171/6.
The duo of Nicholas Pooran and Keemo Paul were able to run out Shakib Al Hasan and skipper Jason Holder but wasn’t enough as Carter’s late success in addition to Ashlet Nurse’s 15 ball 19 ensured that Barbados was one step closer to clinching the CPL Title.
The title became closer in sight, especially after the Guyana Amazon Warriors went to bat. Guyana was chasing a title to top off of their perfect and historic season but first, they had to score 172 runs. They got off to a shaky start, and things went from bad to worse after their opener Chandrpaul Hemraj was out in the second over for just one. Brandon King, his partner, was fairly strong in the crease but failed to find enough chemistry in Shimron Hetmyer and skipper Shoaib Malik as both of the batsmen were dismissed for single digits. Brandon King was the top scorer for Guyana recorded a 33 ball 43, falling on the last ball of the 11th over at 79/4 and Guyana still needed 98 from the remaining nine overs.
Guyana’s race to the finish was over and they didn’t come in first. Nicholas Pooran and Keemo Paul scored twenties but the remainder of the line up truly crumbled under pressure and Barbados limited Guyana to a score of 144/9.
Barbados claimed the title putting an end to Guyana’s fairy-tale season, resulting in yet another CPL Final loss.
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