Rashid ‘tricks’ Tallawahs to send them home

A hat-trick from an emerging player and a half century from a player in the twilight of his career, led Guyana Amazon Warriors to a comfortable five-wicket win over Jamaica Tallawahs in eliminator one of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League, on Wednesday night.

The victory at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy meant Amazon Warriors were scheduled to play Trinbago Knight Riders in eliminator two last night at the same venue. The winner of last night’s match will face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the final tomorrow at the Brian Lara Academy, from 9 pm.

Khan, an 18 year old Afghanistan spinner, took the first hat-trick in the five-year history of CPL as Jamaica Tallawahs posted 168 for eight in their 20 overs. The moment came for Khan in the 15th over of the match when Andre McCarthy (14), Jonathan Foo (duck) and Rovman Powell (duck) were all out bowled to the wily spinner. They all had their stumps rattled while playing forward as they misjudged the flight and spin. Khan ended with 3/32 in four overs, while Kumar Sangakkara was the top batsman for Tallawahs scoring 57.

In reply, 36-year-old Luke Ronchi of New Zealand struck 70 off 33 deliveries with five fours and five sixes to guide Amazon Wariors to 169/5 in 17.5 overs. Mahmudullah was the chief destroyer for Tallawahs grabbing 3/25 in four overs.

After the win Ronchi said, “It was nice, it is always nice to make runs. You want to help your team win games of cricket. If it’s batting, bowling or fielding whatever it is I think everybody wants to help their team win. It is nice to make some runs and get us closer to the title.”