Tabraiz Shamsi conceded just 16 runs off his four overs, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from losing to the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
The Patriots, playing in just their second CPL season, finished last in 2015 and were hopeful of an improved campaign with the likes of Faf du Plessis, Shamsi, Samuel Badree and Lendl Simmons in their ranks, but it was a familiar sight at Warner Park, as the Amazon Warriors, twice runners-up, took the four-wicket victory with just one ball remaining.
It ran as close as it did largely thanks to Shamsi, who pushed on from his promising start to his ODI career with a miserly spell, conceding just one boundary from his four overs, and finishing it off with a wicket. His third-last delivery sped on and saw debutant Anthony Bramble edge one behind. At the time it put all the pressure back on the opponents.
Du Plessis, captaining the Patriots, had an eventful outing, scoring 30 from 28 balls, before playing his part in a run-out and taking a catch in the same over. 41-year-old Brad Hodge impressed with 38 as the side posted 164-9, with Adam Zampa taking 3-34, Sohail Tanvir took 4-20.
Dwayne Smith did the damage in response, plundering 62 off just 36 balls. There was plenty of drama in the last over … Guyana needed seven off it, but a run-out and some clever bowling left them needing six off three. Jason Mohammed peeled off the remaining runs to put the Amazon Warriors on the board.
Photo: CPL/SportsFile
