Win Projections to be updated soon
Dwaine Pretorius‘ outstanding batting cameo helped the Guyana Amazon Warriors defeat the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in a thrilling last-ball victory. The South African all-rounder’s last-ditch batting effort was what sealed the victory in a game that had swings both ways.
The Falcons were on the losing side for the second straight night when the game was decided on the very last play of the contest. After batting poorly in the face of Gudakesh Motie’s potent bowling, the Falcons rallied to produce a respectable total of 168/6.
The Falcons appeared to be winning the game when the target was 47 runs from 18 balls, but Dwaine Pretorius and the Warriors’ unselfish batting showed carried them to a three-wicket victory.
The Warriors also had trouble staying consistent with their batting throughout their innings. After winning the toss, the Amazon Warriors elected to bowl first, and they made a big early breakthrough when Shai Hope’s excellent fielding got Teddy Bishop out for a mere 10/1 at the end of the second over.
There was a need for a rebuild after a rather sluggish opening two overs and the departure of one of their openers, and they got one because of a 73-run partnership between Kofi James and Fakhar Zaman, which raised the rate to about 10 an over.
The Falcons’ collapse, which saw them lose four wickets for only 29 runs, began with James’ wicket. As he advanced down the pitch, Motie was the main destroyer, bowling England batsman Sam Billings with a deft delivery that beat him. When Jewel Andrew, a 17-year-old batsman, attempted to knock back-to-back sixes, Shimron Hetmyer caught him at deep mid-wicket.
After a middle order blunder, it was all about Imad Wasim, who executed a superb counterattacking knock to propel the Falcons back into the game. The Pakistani all-rounder put up 40 runs in 21 balls, putting the Falcons in a position from which they would have to defend.
Motie was bowled for six from four balls after the Amazon Warriors decided to move him up the order to open. He had hit a six in the opening over. Gurbaz also entered the PowerPlay when Shamar Springer’s acrobatic catch at midwicket ended his innings.
As the rate started to rise, the Falons spinners were effective in containing the Warriors after the fielding limitations were relaxed. Imad bowled Shimron Hetmyer, who was trying to steady things and establish a platform for the Warriors. The Warriors were down to 77/4 when Azam Khan struck his stumps with his bat following a nasty bouncer from Springer.
With the needed rate at more than 15 an over, Shai Hope was still in the middle and the previous year’s Player of the Tournament looking dangerous in the last overs. However, he was bowled for 41 and it seemed that the Warriors were out of the game.
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That was before the Warriors launched their title defence in the most spectacular manner imaginable when Pretorius scored eighteen runs off of the last six balls.
India
