The Guyana Amazon Warriors clinched a dramatic win on the final ball against the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, thanks to a match-winning cameo by Dwaine Pretorius. In a game full of twists, Pretorius’s last-minute effort secured the victory.
For the second consecutive night, the game was decided on the last ball with the Falcons coming out on the losing end. Despite a shaky start and strong bowling from Gudakesh Motie, the Falcons managed a competitive total of 168/6.
The Warriors also struggled to maintain batting consistency throughout their innings and the game looked to be heading towards a Falcons victory with the target of 47 runs from 18 balls, but a nerveless batting display from Pretorius and the Warriors tail saw them through to a three-wicket victory.
After winning the toss, the Amazon Warriors elected to bowl first and made an early breakthrough when Teddy Bishop was run out by a fine fielding catch from Shai Hope to leave them on 10/1 at the end of the second over.
After a relatively slow first two overs and the loss of one of their openers, they needed a rebuild and they got one thanks to a 73-run stand between Fakhar Zaman and Kofi James that took the rate to almost 10 an over.
James’ wicket was the start of a Falcons collapse that saw them lose four wickets for just 29 runs. Motie was the destroyer in chief as he bowled Sam Billings with a clever delivery that hit the England batsman as he advanced down the pitch. He also had Jewel Andrew caught at deep mid-wicket by Shimron Hetmyer as the 17-year-old batsman attempted to hit back-to-back sixes.
Imad Wasim played a great comeback knock for the Falcons after their middle order struggled. The Pakistani all-rounder scored 40 from 21 balls, helping the Falcons reach a total they could defend.
The Amazon Warriors put Motie at the top of the order to open and he hit a six in the first over but was bowled for 6 from four balls. Gurbaz was also dismissed inside the PowerPlay by a juggling catch from Shamar Springer.
The Falcons’ spinners did well to tie down the Warriors once the fielding restrictions were eased. Shimron Hetmyer tried to steady the innings for the Warriors but was bowled by Imad. Azam Khan hit his stumps after a vicious bouncer from Springer. The Warriors were 77/4.
Shai Hope was still in the middle, and last year’s Player of the Tournament was looking dangerous in the death overs. But he was bowled for 41, and it seemed the game was over for the Warriors.
That was before Pretorius took 18 runs from the final six balls as the Warriors started the defence of their title in the most dramatic way possible.
