CPL 2021: Pooran’s pyrotechnics put Guyana Amazon Warriors in driving seat for semi-finals

The
Amazon
Warriors
won
the
toss
and
elected
to
bat
first
and
captain
Nicholas
Pooran
led
the
way
with
a
brutal
75
not
out
to
set
the
Tallawahs
170
to
win.

In
reply,
the
Tallawahs
succumbed
to
a
heavy
defeat
as
Odean
Smith
and
Gudakesh
Motie
combined
to
bowl
the
Amazon
Warriors
to
victory.

Guyana
got
their
innings
off
to
a
steady
start
amassing
46
runs
in
the
PowerPlay
but
they
had
to
contend
with
the
loss
of
Brandon
King
and
Chandrapaul
Hemraj
in
doing
so.

Despite
Shimron
Hetmyer
then
running
himself
out,
Nicholas
Pooran
and
Shoaib
Malik
put
together
a
partnership
of
54
runs
from
33
balls
to
place
Guyana
in
a
strong
position
with
six
overs
to
go.

Pooran
then
took
on
the
responsibility
of
getting
his
side
into
a
good
position
and
his
pyrotechnics
at
the
back
end
of
the
innings
ensured
Guyana
Amazon
Warriors
posted
a
very
competitive
169/6.

The
Tallawahs
were
able
to
keep
pace
with
the
required
run
rate
in
the
early
stages
of
their
reply
as
Haider
Ali
and
Kirk
Mckenzie
overcame
the
loss
of
Kennar
Lewis
to
put
on
a
41-run
partnership.

Odean
Smith’s
entry
into
the
attack
proved
pivotal
as
his
two
wickets
in
two
balls
swung
the
pendulum
back
in
Guyana’s
favour
and
he
wasn’t
done
there
as
he
also
got
rid
of
Andre
Russell
in
a
wonderful
wicket
maiden
over.

Alongside
Smith,
Gudakesh
Motie
spun
a
web
as
his
three
wickets
helped
ensure
there
was
no
chance
of
an
unlikely
win
for
the
Tallawahs.

The
victory
for
the
Amazon
Warriors
means
the
Tallawahs
will
now
have
to
win
the
return
game
to
make
the
semi-finals.

Source:
CPL