King’s brilliant 100 sends Warriors into final
PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC): he Guyana Amazon Warriors predictably maintained their unbeaten streak yesterday, notching their 11th win on the trot in a comfortable 30-run victory over the Barbados Tridents to book their place in the final of the Caribbean Premier League.
Led by an outstanding unbeaten century from opener Brandon Knight, the Warriors posted a formidable 218 for three off their 20 overs.
Despite an encouraging start, the Tridents frequently lost wickets which helped to derail their chase and they eventually ended on 188 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.
The 24-year-old King lit up the afternoon sky with breathtaking shot selection during his knock of 132
T(11 sixes and 10 fours in 72 balls) , the highest individual score in CPL history. Firstly, he shared an opening stand of 73 in nine overs with Chandrapaul Hemraj, which served as a launchpad for the rest of the innings.
King showed his intentions early on, smashing 18 runs off Jason Holder’s second over after a relatively slow start for the Warriors.
It took a spectacular return catch from Hayden Walsh Jr running back to break the partnership by dismissing Hemraj for 27 from 23 balls.
Shimron Hetmyer’s stay at the crease didn’t last long as he was out once again to a short delivery, pulling Jason Holder into the hands of Raymon Reifer on the boundary after scoring three runs.
Former Trident Shoab Malik then joined King at the crease and together they completely tore their opponent’s bowling apart.
The 16th over proved to be the turning point of the innings with the duo unleashing their fury on spinner Shakib Al Hasan.
Two Malik sixes off the first two balls were followed by a four and two sixes by King, as they took 29 runs from the over.
By the time the innings was over the Warriors posted the highest ever T20 total at the ground. Jonathan Carter (49) hit top score for Tridents who will now face the Knight Riders in the second semi-final with the winners advancing to face the unbeaten Warriors.