Last year's runner-up Guyana Amazon Warriors finally got their first win of the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Friday night when they easily took care of the St Kitts Patriots at Warner Park.Set at 150 runs for victory after Evin Lewis (34) and Martin Guptill (34) had taken the home team to 149 for nine off their 20 overs, the Warriors reached 150 for three.
Skipper Denesh Ramdin celebrated the birth of his first child Adair Matt Ramdin, by slamming an unbeaten 54. On reaching his half century off just 34 balls, the West Indies Test captain made the sign of "rocking a cradle" in celebration of his son's arrival.He got good support from Lendl Simmons who spanked 41 to finally get among the runs, as the Amazon Warriors looked the team they were in the first two editions of this tournament.
Ramdin's run came off 35 balls with five fours and four sixes, while Simmons' 41 occupied 33 balls with five fours and a six.
Earlier, Marlon Samuels won the toss and decided to take first strike in an effort to maximise the use of the pitch with the ball. Openers Guptill and Lewis took advantage to gave the Patriots a solid opening start of 66 runs. Although the runs did not come at a very fast rate, the two were able to put together a good launching platform. However, when they launched, they found themselves walking back to the dugout. Lewis was the first to go for 34 off 34 balls with three fours and a six.
The fans here, who were in a celebratory mood on the Friday afternoon soon grew very quiet, as the home team slipped from 66 without loss to 103 for six. They scored just 37 runs whilst losing six wickets and this crippled their innings.One of the main men causing the Guyanese to dance was the man with the pink shoe, Sunil Narine. He got rid of Guptill for 34 off 31 balls with three fours and a six and sent back Orlando Peters immediately.
Carlos Brathwaite came and fought fire with fire, slamming three sixes in getting 23 off 11 balls, to give the Patriots a fighting score. Pacer Ronsford Beaton ended with 3/39 while Narine picked 2/27.
SCOREBOARD
Warriors vs Patriots
Patriots inns
M Guptill b Narine 34
E Lewis c Hodge b Beaton 34
M Samuels st Ramdin b Bishoo 17
O Peters lbw Narine 0
S Afridi c Dilshan b Bishoo 3
S Tanvir c Barnwell b De Lange 9
T Willett c Akmal b Dilshan 9
C Brathwaite c De Lange b Beaton 23
D Thomas c Akmal b Beaton 3
S Cotterell not out 9
T Shamzi not out 0
Extras 2b, 6w 8
Total for 9 wkts 149
Fall of wkts: 66, 83, 83, 93, 93, 103, 136, 139, 141. Bowling: V Permaul 4-0-35-0, M de Lange 4-0-24-1, S Narine 4-1-27-2, R Beaton 4-0-39-3, T Dilshan 2-0-9-1, D Bishoo 2-0-13-2.
Amazon Inns
L Simmons c Cotterell b Shamzi 41
T Dilshan c Willett b Tanvir 12
D Ramdin not out 54
B Hodge c Willett b Cotterell 18
U Akmal not out 1
Extras w15, b9 24
Total for three wkts (16ovs) 150
Fall of wkts: 19, 84, 143.
Bowling: S Tanvir 3-0-16-1, S Cotterell 2-0-21-1, C Brathwaite 3-0-28-0, S Afridi 4-0-51-0, T Shamzi 4-0-29-1.
Result: Guyana Amazon Warriors won by 7 wkts.
Man of the match: Denesh Ramdin.