Rahmanullah Gurbaz struck a fluent half-century as the Guyana Amazon Warriors chased down 160 with ease to secure an eight-wicket win over the Jamaica Kingsmen at the Guyana National Stadium last night.
Gurbaz smashed 54 from 35 deliveries, while Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer guided the home side safely over the line at 160 for two after 17.2 overs.
Watched by a large home crowd, the Warriors began their pursuit aggressively through Gurbaz and Mavindra Dindyal. Although Gurbaz initially played the supporting role, Dindyal attacked the Kingsmen’s bowlers and raced to 33 from 17 balls with four sixes and one four.
Their opening partnership produced 46 runs before Hunain Shah bowled Dindyal in the fifth over.
Gurbaz then took control alongside Hope. The pair added 68 for the second wicket, with the Afghan opener reaching his half-century before he was caught by Rovman Powell off Maaz Sadaqat at 114 for two.
Any hopes of a Jamaica comeback were quickly ended by Hetmyer. The left-hander struck an unbeaten 30 from 17 balls, while Hope anchored the closing stages with 39 not out from 35 deliveries.
The pair added an undefeated 46 runs, helping the Warriors finish the chase with 16 balls to spare. Shah and Sadaqat claimed one wicket each, while Hassan Khan was Jamaica’s most economical bowler with figures of none for 20 from four overs.
The Kingsmen had earlier struggled after being sent in to bat by Warriors captain Imran Tahir. Kirk McKenzie departed for one in the opening over, while Keacy Carty made a brisk 18 from 12 balls before becoming Dwaine Pretorius’ second victim.
Maaz Sadaqat attempted to hold the innings together with 35, but wickets continued to fall around him. Usman Khan scored 10, Keemo Paul made 15 and captain Powell was bowled by Mohammad Nabi without scoring.
Khary Pierre removed Sadaqat in the 14th over, leaving the Kingsmen in serious difficulty at 87 for six.
Hassan Khan then launched a powerful counterattack, hammering six sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 62 from 29 balls. He combined with Odean Smith for a 55-run partnership, which carried the score to 142 before Smith was run out for 13.
Hassan’s late assault lifted Jamaica to 159 for seven, but the total was not enough to challenge the Warriors’ powerful batting line-up.
Player of the Match Pretorius claimed two for 20 from three overs, while Pierre returned two for 21. Nabi collected one for 25, and the other two wickets came through run-outs by Nabi and Gurbaz.
Discussion