The Guyana Amazon Warriors knocked defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders out of the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League with a six-wicket victory in front of another packed house at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Friday night.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz produced the game-changing performance, claiming 4-23 from four overs as the Knight Riders were restricted to 126-8 after the Warriors won the toss and elected to field.
Shai Hope then expertly guided the chase with an unbeaten 42 from 35 balls, sealing the victory in style with a massive six over long-on. The Warriors reached 127-4 in 18.4 overs, winning with eight balls remaining.
Miraz was named Player of the Match after breaking the back of TKR’s batting and delivering a decisive double strike during the Power Play.
Colin Munro gave TKR an aggressive start, hitting four fours and a six in 26 from 16 balls. He shared a 41-run opening partnership with Alex Hales before Miraz bowled him with the fourth delivery of the fifth over.
The off-spinner struck again with his very next ball, bowling captain Nicholas Pooran for a first-ball duck to leave TKR on 41-2.
Hales, who made a cautious 22 from 26 balls, was caught by Glenn Phillips off captain Imran Tahir at 59-3 in the 10th over. Tahir delivered another economical spell, finishing with 1-21 from his four overs.
Justin Greaves attempted to rebuild the innings and top-scored with 35 from 37 balls, but TKR struggled to generate sustained momentum against the Warriors’ varied attack.
Miraz returned to bowl Jyd Goolie for four and Sunil Narine for seven, completing a spell that included 10 dot balls and conceded only one four and one six.
Shamar Joseph also made an important contribution by removing Greaves and Joshua Da Silva. He finished with 2-27 from four overs, while Dwaine Pretorius dismissed Kieron Pollard for 10 and returned 1-24 from three overs.
Akeal Hosein’s unbeaten 12 from nine balls helped TKR reach 126, but the total left their bowlers with little room for error.
The Warriors were cautious at the beginning of their reply on a tricky surface. Mavindra Dindyal changed the tempo by launching two massive sixes during a counter-attacking 19 from 14 balls.
However, Akeal Hosein trapped Dindyal leg-before in the fourth over, leaving the Warriors at 22-1. They reached 35-1 at the end of the Power Play before Usman Tariq clean-bowled Phillips for 11 immediately after the fielding restrictions were lifted.
Shimron Hetmyer provided quick relief by smashing three sixes in a brisk 28 from 19 balls. His attacking approach eased the pressure on Hope as the pair added a crucial 49 runs for the third wicket.
Narine eventually removed Hetmyer at 85-3 in the 13th over, with Greaves completing the catch.
TKR’s spinners continued to make scoring difficult through the middle overs. Narine was outstanding with 1-13 from four overs, including a maiden, while Tariq claimed 1-19 from his four overs.
Miraz struggled with the bat after his excellent bowling performance, scoring two from 14 deliveries before he was caught by Pollard off Lahiru Kumara. His dismissal left the Warriors at 93-4 after 15.1 overs and briefly gave TKR hope.
Hope remained composed, however, and combined with Quentin Sampson in an unbroken 34-run fifth-wicket partnership. Sampson continued his impressive tournament by contributing an unbeaten 12 from 12 balls, including two fours.
With the target within reach, Hope completed the job by launching Greaves over long-on for the winning six. His unbeaten innings featured one four and two sixes and provided the control the Warriors needed during a challenging pursuit.
Following the victory, the Warriors embarked on a lap of honour to thank their supporters. Providence Stadium was packed for every match during the Guyana leg.
Summarised scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 126-8 from 20 overs (Justin Greaves 35, Colin Munro 26, Alex Hales 22; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-23, Shamar Joseph 2-27) lost to Guyana Amazon Warriors 127-4 from 18.4 overs (Shai Hope 42 not out, Shimron Hetmyer 28, Mavindra Dindyal 19; Sunil Narine 1-13, Usman Tariq 1-19) by six wickets.
Discussion