The Guyana Amazon Warriors successfully defended their Global Super League title with a tense six-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns in Saturday night’s final at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
After being dismissed for just 85 in 18.5 overs, the Warriors produced a disciplined bowling performance to bowl out the Unicorns for 79 in 18.3 overs and retain the championship in dramatic fashion.
Dwaine Pretorius was named Player of the Match after contributing an unbeaten 17 and returning figures of 3-24 from three overs. Mohammad Nabi also played a major role with the ball, taking 3-12 from four overs, while captain Imran Tahir claimed 2-16.
The Warriors appeared to be heading towards a heavy defeat after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Their top and middle order collapsed as wickets fell regularly, leaving them struggling at 29-8 in the ninth over.
Matthew Forde then led a vital lower-order recovery, striking 28 from 23 balls with two fours and two sixes. He shared a 41-run ninth-wicket partnership with Pretorius, which lifted the defending champions to 70 before Forde was dismissed.
Tahir added 11 from 11 balls in a final-wicket stand of 15 with Pretorius, helping the Warriors reach what eventually proved to be a winning total.
Peter Siddle and Anirudh Immanuel were the main wicket-takers for the Unicorns. Siddle collected 3-18 from four overs, while Immanuel returned outstanding figures of 3-7 from his four overs. Fabian Allen, Callum Stow and Karima Gore claimed one wicket each.
The Unicorns’ chase began badly when Tim Robinson was dismissed by Pretorius from the first ball of the innings. Gudakesh Motie then bowled Connor Esterhuizen for five, before Pretorius removed captain Hassan Khan for nine to leave the visitors at 28-3.
Oliver Peake kept the Unicorns in the contest with a top score of 31 from 28 balls, including three fours and one six. He added 25 with Sanjay Krishnamurthi, but Nabi broke the partnership by dismissing Krishnamurthi for nine.
The chase quickly unravelled as Tahir removed Hammad Azam and Karima Gore in successive deliveries before Nabi accounted for Peake and Anirudh Immanuel. The Unicorns slipped from 53-3 to 58-8.
Peter Siddle made an unbeaten 13 and shared a 14-run ninth-wicket partnership with Allen, but Pretorius bowled Allen for six to leave San Francisco needing 14 runs with one wicket remaining.
Siddle and Stow took the score to 79 before Stow was run out by Shimron Hetmyer, completing a memorable defensive effort and sparking celebrations for the Warriors.
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