The St Lucia Kings claimed their first-ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title in emphatic fashion on Sunday night, defeating the defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets in a thrilling final at Providence Stadium. Aaron Jones and Roston Chase led a remarkable recovery after a shaky start to secure the Kings' maiden title, with Jones delivering a match-winning performance under intense pressure.

Chasing a modest target of 139 on a slow, two-paced surface, the Kings appeared in trouble at 51 for 4, with the Warriors’ spinners dominating proceedings. The Guyana crowd had reached a fever pitch as the Kings struggled to score, going nine overs without a boundary. Roston Chase, battling illness, and Aaron Jones, who was on the verge of being retired out by captain Daren Sammy, faced a relentless attack from Guyana’s four-pronged spin bowling unit, led by Noor Ahmad.

However, the match swung dramatically in the 16th over when Jones, who had crawled to 10 off 19 balls, unleashed a furious assault on Moeen Ali, smashing 27 runs off the over with a series of sixes and fours. His explosive batting ignited the Kings’ chase, turning the tide of the game in their favor. Jones, who finished unbeaten on 48 from 31 balls, shared an unbroken 88-run partnership with Chase, who played a measured innings of 39 off 22 balls, guiding the Kings to victory with 11 balls to spare.

The Kings had been rattled early in their chase when Romario Shepherd removed Johnson Charles for seven. Faf du Plessis, Ackeem Auguste, and Tim Seifert soon followed, leaving the Kings teetering at 51 for 4, with the required run rate climbing. However, Jones and Chase stayed calm, absorbing the pressure before unleashing their onslaught. Jones smashed Dwaine Pretorius for 20 runs in the 17th over, leaving the Kings needing just one run from the final two overs. Imran Tahir’s wide down the leg side sealed the Warriors' fate, handing the Kings a memorable victory.

Reflecting on the win, Chase, who has been with the Kings for five seasons, said: “It means a lot. I’ve been in two finals before, and I made up my mind this morning that I wasn’t going to lose this one.” Meanwhile, Jones, who delivered when it mattered most, added, “We knew playing in the final would be a challenge, but we came out on top. I think of myself as a match-winner.”

Earlier, the Warriors struggled to build momentum after being asked to bat first. They could only muster 27 runs in the powerplay, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opening over. The St Lucia Kings’ bowlers applied consistent pressure, with Khary Pierre delivering a superb spell of 2-0-6-1 during the powerplay. Alzarri Joseph also tied down the batters with wide lines, while Noor Ahmad (4-0-19-3) was the standout, taking the key wickets of Moeen Ali (14) and Shimron Hetmyer (11), both falling to mistimed shots. Chase also chipped in with the wicket of Shai Hope (22) as the Warriors stumbled to 102 for 7 after 18 overs.

Despite a late surge from Romario Shepherd (18) and Dwaine Pretorius (21), who added 36 runs in the final two overs to push the Warriors to 138-8, the total proved insufficient. Noor Ahmad’s 22 wickets this season placed him just behind CPL legend Dwayne Bravo’s record of most wickets in a single CPL season.

The Kings’ victory marks a significant moment in their CPL journey, as they lifted their first title in franchise history. The triumph was a testament to their resilience and belief, with Aaron Jones’ match-winning innings set to be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments of the 2024 CPL season.

Reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors defeated Antigua & Barbuda Falcons by 27 runs to book a place in the latter stages of the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The defeat for the Falcons means they are now eliminated and the final four for this year's event is now set.

The Falcons won the toss and elected to field first and in restricting the Warriors to 135-7, they gave themselves a real chance of pulling off a surprise victory. The Falcons bowling attack shared the wickets around and did well to restrict the Warriors batting card, only eventual Player of the Match Moeen Ali managed to really do any damage with the bat in hand for Warriors.

The recently retired England international struck 42 off 33 balls including three fours and the same number of sixes before a nifty run out by Joshua James put an end to his innings and kept the target a manageable one.

The Falcons batting unit got plenty of starts but the side eventually suffered for the fact that none were converted into a meaningful score. Wickets fell in a steady stream and were shared around by the Warriors – Ali picking up 3-/9 with his wily off spin and South African seamer Dwayne Pretorious pocketing three wickets from just 2.5 overs.

It was a sparkling performance in both disciplines from Moeen Ali who described it as an ‘honour’ to play for the Warriors adding “the crowd is unbelievable at home, it surprised me nicely!”

The defeat sees the end of the road in the 2024 competition for the Falcons, they had their moments but with only three wins in 10 games they depart with plenty to ponder.

The Warriors look a dangerous outfit in all facets of the game and were cheered on raucously by their home crowd who were left at the end of the evening with every reason to believe a title defence is firmly on the cards.

The 2024 CPL Playoffs will feature the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados Royals, Saint Lucia Kings and the Trinbago Knight Riders.

Defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors made it two wins in two games with a comfortable 40-run win over St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in match seven of the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Basseterre.

Electing to bat first in rainy conditions could have been seen as a risk but Imran Tahir’s Warriors had no such qualms as they set about posting a sizeable score of 266-7 off their 20 overs. A rope had been dragged around the wet outfield before play began but the showery conditions failed to dampen the Warrior’s run rate.

In fact, Shimron Hetmyer took the ground conditions out of the equation all together by blitzing 11 sixes to all parts of the stadium to rack up 91 runs off just 39 balls. An incredible display of hitting in an innings that didn’t include a single four. It proved to be a decisive knock from Hetmyer who was later awarded Player of the Match.

The Warriors’ total was the second highest in CPL history, just one run behind the score made by the Trinbago Knight Riders against the Jamaica Tallawahs in 2019. The match also had a record for sixes in a CPL match, with 42 Republic Bank Maximums flying out of Warner Park.

In response, Patriots captain Andre Fletcher led by example at the top of the order by compiling 81 off 33 balls but when he was well caught by Dwaine Pretorious off the skiddy spin of Gudakesh Motie in the 13th over the Patriots chase lost its impetus and wickets fell steadily throughout.

A late delay for another rain shower couldn’t save Fletcher’s side as after a short break Pretorious served up the coup de grace by bouncing out Mikyle Louis to seal the win with 12 balls to spare. and condemn the Patriots to their third straight defeat.

Spin proved to be a decisive factor in the high scoring match, with Warriors captain Tahir bowling a pivotal double wicket maiden in the 10th over, outfoxing both Josh Clarkson and Odean Smith in a matter of balls. He ended with three wickets as did Motie with his cunning slow left arm.

The Warriors look a strong outfit with bat and ball as they set about trying to go back-to-back in this year’s CPL while the Patriots will be looking to bounce back against the Barbados Royals on Friday.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors secured a stunning last-ball win over the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons thanks to a brilliant batting cameo from Dwaine Pretorius. In a match that swung one way and then the other throughout it was the last-gasp batting effort of the South African all-rounder who secured the win. 

It was the second night in a row where the game was won off the final delivery of the match with the Falcons on the losing side both times. The Falcons had recovered from a stuttering batting display in the face of strong bowling from Gudakesh Motie to post a competitive total of 168-6. 

The Warriors also struggled to maintain batting consistency throughout their innings and it looked as if the game was heading towards a Falcons’ win when the target was 47 runs from 18 balls, but a nerveless batting display from Pretorius and the Warriors tail took them to a three-wicket win. 

 Having won the toss, the Amazon Warriors chose to bowl first and they claimed an early breakthrough when Teddy Bishop was run out by a fine piece of fielding from Shai Hope to leave them 10-1 at the end of the second over. 

After a relatively slow opening two overs and the loss of one of their openers, there was a need to rebuild, and that is what they got thanks to a 73-run stand between Fakhar Zaman and Kofi James that took the rate to close to 10 an over. 

 James’ wicket was the start of a Falcons collapse that saw them lose four wickets for the addition of just 29 runs. Motie was the destroyer in chief as he bowled Sam Billings with a clever delivery that beat the England batter when he advanced down the pitch. He also had Jewel Andrew caught at deep mid-wicket by Shimron Hetmyer when the 17-year-old batter tried to hit back-to-back sixes. 

From there it was about Imad Wasim who played a brilliant counter-attacking knock that brought the Falcons right back into this match after a middle-order stumble. The Pakistani all-rounder scored 40 from 21 balls to propel the Falcons to a total that they could look to defend.

 The Amazon Warriors opted to promote Motie up the order to open and he scored a six in the first over but was bowled for six from four balls. Gurbaz also went inside the PowerPlay when he was dismissed by a juggling catch by Shamar Springer at midwicket. 

The Falcons spinners did a good job at tying down the Warriors once the fielding restrictions loosened as the rate began to climb. Shimron Hetmyer looked to steady things for the Warriors and build a platform but he was bowled by Imad. When Azam Khan hit his stumps with his bat after a vicious Springer bouncer the Warriors had stumbled to 77-.  

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 appeared that the game was gone for the Warriors with the required rate at more than 15 an over. 

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. 

It was a historic night at Providence as Guyana Amazon Warriors won the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final with a nine-wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders, ensuring a maiden CPL title for the franchise.

Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and chose to bowl first, producing a disciplined performance to bowl the Knight Riders out for just 94. Imran Tahir and Gudakesh Motie produced valuable economical spells, while Dwaine Pretorius took four wickets.

It was a nervy chase from the Amazon Warriors in front of a home crowd as the Knight Riders tried to restrict runs with spin. However, Saim Ayub and Shai Hope, the two leading run scorers in CPL this season, would ultimately see the team over the line, winning by nine wickets.

Despite a 24-run opening stand between Chadwick Walton and Mark Deyal, the Knight Riders lost wickets at regular intervals, with three falling to seam bowling in the Powerplay, including key batter Nicholas Pooran for just one.

Captain Kieron Pollard would fall straight after the Powerplay, as spin began to play a vital role, with Motie and Tahir causing havoc, taking a combined four wickets between them and conceding just 15 runs in total.

Keacy Carty would attempt to lead the resistance for the Knight Riders, but as he ran out of partners he found himself taking more risks, eventually falling to a brilliant Shimron Hetmyer catch. The Knight Riders would finish 94 all out.

Guyana Amazon Warriors lost the early wicket of Keemo Paul, who was opening, which added tension to their chase. Knight Riders would deploy both Akeal Hosein and Sunil Narine in the Powerplay in an attempt to prise more wickets, but the Amazon Warriors would end the Powerplay on 29-1. 

Saim Ayub and Shai Hope would show the form that has led to them leading the run scoring charts this season, combining to take the Amazon Warriors to victory, Ayub bringing up his half century with a six from the last ball of the chase, to take the Warriors to a maiden CPL title win.

 Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 99-1 (Ayub 52*, Hope 32*; Hosein 1-21) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 94 all out (Carty 38, Deyal 16; Pretorius 4-26, Motie 2-7) by 9 wickets.

In a thrilling encounter at Providence, Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their unbeaten streak in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by defeating the Jamaica Tallawahs by seven wickets, securing a spot in Qualifier 1.

Winning the toss and opting to field first, the Warriors were resolute in their approach. Despite a fiery start by Brandon King, the Jamaica Tallawahs found it challenging to maintain their momentum, concluding their innings at 152-5 after 20 overs.

The home team's chase began with a dream opening partnership as Saim Ayub and Matthew Nandu combined forces to construct an impressive 112-run stand, firmly establishing the Warriors' dominance. Ayub showcased his brilliance, amassing a remarkable 85 runs to steer the Guyana Amazon Warriors towards a comfortable victory.

Although the Jamaica Tallawahs suffered an early setback with the dismissal of Alex Hales, courtesy of Romario Shepherd's bowling, Brandon King showcased his prowess, crafting exquisite shots on his way to a half-century off just 29 balls.

However, the Guyana Amazon Warriors retaliated when Gudakesh Motie dismissed King, causing a slowdown in the Tallawahs' scoring rate. Over a span of six middle overs, the Tallawahs struggled to find the boundary consistently, thanks in large part to the contributions of South African duo Dwaine Pretorius and Imran Tahir.

As the innings drew to a close, the Jamaica Tallawahs managed to reach a total of 152-5 after their allotted 20 overs.

Guyana Amazon Warriors introduced CPL debutant Matthew Nandu, who, alongside Saim Ayub, formed an opening partnership that firmly tilted the game in the Warriors' favor.

Ayub reached his half-century from 34 balls, marking his third consecutive CPL fifty. In the 13th over, Chris Green managed to dismiss Matthew Nandu, but Ayub continued to dazzle, accumulating 85 runs and guiding his side to the brink of victory before eventually losing his wicket. Shai Hope and Odean Smith sealed the deal for the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

With this convincing win, the Guyana Amazon Warriors advance to Qualifier 1, setting the stage for more thrilling CPL action. Their next challenge awaits them as they square off against the Saint Lucia Kings on Thursday evening.

Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors: 155-3 (Ayub 85, Nandu 37; Springer 1-23, Irshad 1-27)

Jamaica Tallawahs: 152-5 (King 52, Allen 21; Pretorius 2-33, Shepherd 1-19, Tahir 1-19)

Result: Guyana Amazon Warriors win by 7 wickets.

Saint Lucia Kings kept their Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) hopes alive with a dominant victory against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots at the Darren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia Sunday night.

 The Patriots won the toss and opted to field first and that appeared to have backfired when Johnson Charles and Faf Du Plessis put on a blistering opening partnership that saw them post 61 runs in the PowerPlay. 

 However, much like their performance against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Kings faltered badly in the back end of their innings losing nine wickets for 75 runs.  

Despite the stuttering end to their innings, the 161-9 the Kings posted always looked tricky and the Patriots got off to a bad start in the PowerPlay losing three wickets for 48 runs.

They never recovered from that position as the Kings blew them away with an excellent performance in the field. Tim David led the way with a Hero CPL record-equalling five catches in the outfield. 

The Kings needed a good performance in this must-win game and led by captain Faf Du Plessis’ 60 runs from 35 balls they set off very quickly. 

Ably assisted by the in-form Johnson Charles the pair put on 86 for the first wicket but once Charles fell the Kings innings fell away. They regularly lost wickets in clusters and when Alzarri Joseph departed for a duck with the score on 124-7 it looked as if the Kings may not see out the overs. 

However, late hitting from Matthew Forde ensured the Kings were able to post a par score of 161. 

The Patriots' innings was in deep trouble very early on in reply. Matthew Forde ripped through the top three to leave the Patriots teetering at the end of the Powerplay.

 From that point, the Patriots failed to build any meaningful partnership as their top order continued to struggle.

 When Alzarri Joseph removed Darren Bravo for 20 to leave the Patriots on 81-6, that was the last of the recognised batters and the innings soon ended with the Patriots ending on 100 all out.

Saint Lucia Kings 161-9 (Du Plessis 60, Charles 41; Pretorius 3-37, Dananjaya 2-30) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 100 (Lewis 24, Bravo 20; Wiese 3-17, Forde 3-19) by 61 runs.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots achieved their first victory of the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season with a narrow win over Guyana Amazon Warriors by four wickets on Thursday.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and chose to bat, a cautious start saw them score 66 runs in the first 10 overs, but captain Shimron Hetmyer produced tantalising innings, scoring 46 off just 21 balls, to take his side to 162-6 at the end of the innings.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in turn lost frequent wickets throughout their chase, with the Warriors stifling them at regular intervals. However, a remarkable display of power-hitting from Dwaine Pretorius saw the side score 22 runs in the final over and earn a first win in this year’s CPL season with two balls remaining. 

Guyana Amazon Warriors were frustrated early on by some excellent bowling by Sheldon Cottrell and Duan Jansen, who claimed the early wicket of Paul Stirling. Chandrapual Hemraj played a patient innings to build a platform, scoring 43 runs, before Hetmyer displayed some attacking intent, scoring at a strike rate of 219, to take his side to 162-6.  

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots followed a similar pattern, taking a patient approach to the start of their chase after losing the valuable wicket of Evin Lewis in the second over. Andre Fletcher went on to score 41 runs for the Patriots before his dismissal but the wickets of both Dwayne Bravo and Darren Bravo in the 16th over had seemingly ended the Patriots' chances of a win, before Jansen and Pretorius combined in the final overs with a 55-run partnership to guide the side to a remarkable win. 

 This was the Patriots first win of the season, while Guyana Amazon Warriors remain winless after three games.