Amazon Warriors oust Tridents from 2020 CPL

A NEW Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 champion will be crowned at the 2020 edition as defending champions Barbados Tridents did not advance to the playoff round courtesy a six-wicket defeat to the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Thursday.

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, the Amazon Warriors comfortably overhauled the Tridents' low score of 89/9 by posting 90/4 in 14.2 overs.

This result for the Jason Holder-led squad (four points) was their seventh loss of nine matches and saw them become the second team to miss out playoff qualification.

Batting first, Barbados Tridents opening batsman Johnson Charles (ten) showed early intent by smacking a boundary through the covers off off-spinner Chris Green's first delivery.

Right-handed batsman Justin Greaves also had a fine start by hitting off-spinner Kevin Sinclair up and over backward point for four.

However, fast-medium pacer Romario Shepherd's introduction to the bowling paid swift dividends. Charles welcomed the pacer with a four through square leg before going out caught courtesy a brilliant diving catch from Ross Taylor.

Incoming batsman Rashid Khan was dismissed with the very next ball as he skied to deep mid-wicket into the hands of Brandon King (14/2).

Shepherd was unable to secure his hat-trick but the injection of pacer Naveen ul Haq and leg-spinner Imran Tahir tightened the grip on the Tridents' batsmen.

With just 25 runs added and the fall of four wickets, Shamarh Brooks (eight), Greaves (ten), Kyle Mayers (seven) and skipper Jason Holder (three), coming from the next nine overs, Tridents struggled at 39/6 after 10 overs.

Nyeem Young (18) hit a rare six over extra cover agianst Green in the 14th over while Mitchell Santner (18) latched on to a short ball from Shepherd to score four more.

Santner, however, was bowled by Sinclair while Tahir's googly also lit up Young's stumps (78/8) with just 14 balls remaining.

Only ten runs would come from the remainder as Tahir (3/12) and Shepherd (3/22) shone with the ball while ul Haq (15 runs from four overs) and Green (1/17 from four overs) also provided economical spells.

In response, Guyana Amazon Warriors made it four wins on the trot led by an unbeaten knock of 32 from Shimron Hetmyer and 29 from fellow left-hander Chandrapaul Hemraj.

Opening batsman Brandon King, however, was unable to get off the mark as he was cleaned bowled by left-arm spinner Santner off the second ball.

Hetmyer's entrance to the crease saw him team up Hemraj to build a good 34-run partnership. Hemraj smashed three fours and a six before he was dismissed by tumbling catch from Young (35/2) at third man.

Sherfane Rutherford (one) did not last, caught at slip by Nurse off Holder.

Hetmyer hit two consecutive fours off Raymond Reifer but had his vice-captain Nicholas Pooran surprisingly removed without scoring (49/4).

But an unbeaten 40-run partnership from Hetmyer and Ross Taylor would take the Guyana Amazon Warriors over the line, and securing a place in the playoff round.

Matches continue on Saturday at the same venue with table leaders Trinbago Knight Riders (16 points) taking on third ranked St Lucia Zouks (10 points) from 10 am while fourth placed Jamaica Tallawahs (seven points) face the Barbados Tridents from 2.15 pm.

Summarised Scores

BARBADOS TRIDENTS 89/9 (20 overs) – Mitchell Santner 18, Nyeem Young 18; Imran Tahir 3/12, Romario Shepherd 3/22 vs GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS 90/4 (14.2 overs) – Shimron Hetmyer 32 not out, Chandrapaul Hemraj 29, Ross Taylor 16 not out; Jason Holder 2/10. Amazon Warriors won by six wickets. Man of the Match: Romario Shepherd.