Guyana Warriors beat Falcons in the second match of the 2024 Caribbean Premier League, securing a thrilling three-wicket victory at the iconic Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
After winning the toss, the Warriors choose to bowl first, a decision that initially appeared to be advantageous as they contained the Falcons to a total of 168 runs. Fakhar Zaman was the standout performer for the Falcons, scoring a fast 40 off 33 balls, featuring three boundaries and two sixes.
Kofi James provided a solid contribution as well, hitting 37 off 24 balls at a strike rate of 154.17. Imad Wasim later played a crucial role in the middle order, smashing 40 runs off just 21 deliveries, accelerating the Falcons’ innings with his aggressive batting. Despite these efforts, the Falcons were unable to post an imposing total, with Gudakesh Motie emerging as the star bowler for the Warriors, claiming 3 wickets for 25 runs in his four-over spell.
In response, the Warriors faced early setbacks, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gudakesh Motie cheaply. However, Shai Hope anchored the innings with a composed 41 off 34 balls, supported by a burst of boundaries.
Despite the fall of wickets at regular intervals, the Warriors remained in the hunt, thanks to a late attack by Romario Shepherd, who scored 32 off just 16 balls, and Dwaine Pretorius, who provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 20 off 10 balls.
The match ended in a tense finish, with the Warriors reaching the target with three wickets in hand and just a few balls to spare. The Falcons’ bowlers, led by Imad Wasim and CJ Green, tried to pull the game back, but the Warriors’ lower-order resilience proved decisive.
Gudakesh Motie was named the Player of the Match for his all-round contribution, taking 3 crucial wickets and scoring a vital 6 off 4 balls. The victory gives the Guyana Amazon Warriors an early boost in the tournament, while the Antigua Barbuda Falcons will look to bounce back in their upcoming CPL games.