Pretorius stars as Guyana clinch last-ball thriller

A second successive game finished off the last ball in the 2024 edition of the Caribbean Premier League as Dwaine Pretorius led Guyana Amazon Warriors to a 3-wicket win over Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. Chasing 169 for victory, it came down to 16 off the last over. Pretorius struck Mohammad Amir for three fours and a six off the last ball to help the Warriors over the line.

After the early dismissal of Gudakesh Motie, Rahmanullah Gurbaz struck two sixes in an over off Shamar Springer to get the Warriors going in the chase. But Imad Wasim ended Gurbaz's stay by getting him to top edge a slogsweep. The Warriors managed only 41 in the powerplay and were 68/3 at the halfway stage, with Shimron Hetmyer having been dismissed by Wasim for a struggling 19 off 21 despite hitting a four and a six off Fabian Allen. Azam Khan was struck by a short ball from Springer and the ball ricocheted onto the stumps.

Keemo Paul and Shai Hope struck a six apiece but the Falcons were striking at regular intervals, with the former getting out to Keemo Paul. Romario Shepherd and Hope hit a six each off Chris Green in the 17th over but Hope was dismissed soon after for 41. Amir, who had bowled a maiden and conceded only three runs off his first two overs, was hit for two sixes by Shepherd in the 18th over. Shepherd struck another maximum off Springer before getting out for a 16-ball 32. Shamar Joseph's six off Springer brought it down to 16 before Pretorius finished it off in the final over.

Earlier, after being asked to bat, the Falcons lost Teddy Bishop early before Fakhar Zaman and Kofi James combined for a 74-run stand to provide a good platform for their side. James took on Shamar in the fourth over to hit two fours and a six. Imran Tahir had an expensive start too, being hit for two sixes in a four by Zaman as Falcons got to 61/1 at the end of the powerplay. The two batters continued to score regular boundaries until Motie came along for the 10th over and had James bowled for 37.

At 86/2 after 10 overs, the Falcons had a good base but a fine bowling performance from Motie helped the Warriors restrict the opposition in the 11-17 over period. Only 43 runs came in those seven overs as Motie finished with 3 for 25, picking up the wickets of Sam Billings and Jewel Andrew. Zaman was dismissed by Pretorius for 40 off 33, putting the onus on Wasim to provide a good finish for the Falcons. Wasim hit three fours off Shamar in the 18th over, a six off Pretorius followed by two fours off Shamar in the final over as his 21-ball 40 helped the Falcons finish close to 170.

Brief scores: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 168/6 in 20 overs (Imad Wasim 40, Fakhar Zaman 40; Gudakesh Motie 3-25) lost to Guyana Amazon Warriors 171/7 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 41, Romario Shepherd 32; Imad Wasim 2-28) by 3 wickets.