GEORGETOWN–Guyana Amazon Warriors sailed to an easy eight wicket win over the St Lucia Zouks to extend their lead at the top of the table in the 13th match of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Tuesday night.
Warriors completed a successful run chase on the strength of an 82 run partnership between Jason Mohammed and Chris Lynn at the national stadium in Providence after containing Zouks run flow to 138 for six.
Mohammed was unbeaten on 43, Lynn was undefeated on 38 while Dwayne Smith contributed 32 as the Warriors coasted to 139 for two in 17.2 overs.
Both in-form batsmen, Mohammed and Lynn, provided ample entertainment for the crowd with Mohammed in particular taking charge of the innings by hitting a four and four sixes.
The Warriors dominated the game despite a solid top score of 64 from Mike Hussey who led a recovery effort after Zouks lost their openers in the first over.
Hussey also shared a half century stand with David Miller but Zouks efforts did not produce enough runs to stop Warriors from registering their fifth win in six matches.
Zouks are languishing at the bottom of the table with two points from three matches.
Warriors got an early boost from a 55 run opening stand between Smith and Martin Guptill who scored 19.
Guptill was first to go after he was dropped by Sammy twice within the space of five deliveries.
Guptill received his first reprieve when captain Darren Sammy dropped a dolly at cover in the third over and again in the fourth over when the Zouks skipper shelled another at backward point.
Smith departed after an entertaining innings punctuated with three fours and a six until he tried to hit Shane Shillingford out of the park and was caught by Shane Watson at long off.
Zouks, sent in by Warriors, suffered a major setback when they lost their first two wickets in the first over of the innings.
Sohil Tanvir struck in the second ball by removing opener Johnson Charles without scoring and four balls later dismissed Shane Watson.
Tanvir conceded 31 runs in capturing the wickets of Charles and Watson who were both caught as Zouks slipped to four for the loss of two wickets.
Andre Fletcher had a nervous and uncertain stint at the wicket but stuck around long enough to support a third wicket stand of 37 with Hussey.
Fletcher, who scored 16, eventually became one of Adam Zampa's two victims, trapped lbw while attempting a cut shot.
However Hussey found a willing partner in David Miller and together they continued with the task of repairing the innings with a 62 run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Hussey faced 50 balls for his 64 which featured seven fours including three consecutive boundaries of Rayat Emrit.
The Australian batsman and his captain Sammy stitched together 26 important late order runs as the death overs were approaching.
Sammy's crucial late cameo produced 11 runs, which included consecutive fours of Tanvir.
He perished to a delivery from Emrit which offered him no room as he attempted a big shot and was caught by Chris Lynn at Long-off.
Lynn was in action again in the next delivery taking the catch to dismissed Hussey who attempted to hit Emrit over long-on.
Emrit finished with two for 25, taken in two consecutive balls.
Spinner Adam Zampa's haul of two wickets for 30 runs ensured he remained the leading wicket taker of the tournament with 12. (CMC)
Scores
n ST LUCIA ZOUKS 138 for six off 20 overs (Michael Hussey 64, David Miller 23; Sohail Tanvir 2-31, Rayad Emrit 2-25, Adam Zampa 2-30).
n AMAZON WARRIORS 139 for two off 17.2 overs (Jason Mohammed 43 not out, Chris Lynn 38 not out, Dwayne Smith 32; Derone Davis 1-31, Shane Shillingford 1-28).