Warriors fold to Tallawahs in last over thriller
Guyana Amazon Warriors left a packed house heartbroken after folding to the Jamaican Tallawahs by two runs in a thrilling final over, as they began their home leg of this year’s Caribbean Premier league (CPL) with a school boyish display, last evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The evening match began with the Tallawahs skipper, Kumar Sangakarra calling incorrectly, prompting the Warriors to bowl first on a cool afternoon at Providence. Warriors made one change to their lineup from the last match, opting for the extra spinner in Steven Jacobs, who replaced all-rounder Keemo Paul, a move which paid dividends.
The home side then began the encounter tidily with Sohil Tanvir delivering a stern first over to the explosive, Lendl Simmons which only cost two runs, both of which were wides. The Tallawahs who according to Sangakarra, needed a score of over the 140 run mark, to be in with a chance, ended the first power-play on 35 for one, with Simmons (20), the man dismissed by Rashid Khan after he had carved out two boundaries, and a huge six off the bowler responsible for his demise.
It was slow going for the Jamaican franchise as opener, Glenn Phillips and number three batsman Andre McCarthy (8) added 20 runs for the second wicket, with the latter being bowled by Jacobs, just three deliveries shy of the halfway point, making the score 50 for two. Homeboy, Veerasammy Permaul during that time had completed his complement of four overs for 19 runs.
The burden of reaching that desired 140 run mark was now on the shoulders of Sangakarra, a cricketing legend in his own right, albeit a tag earned for his exploits outside of the realm of T20 cricket, to come up with a match winning knock. The situation appeared daunting at 52 for 2, after 10 overs, with Phillips on 17 and Sangakarra on 1.
It was not to be for the legend however, as he was bowled by Jacobs for five, to leave the score on 62 for 3. The dangerous Rovman Powell arrived at the crease and
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