END OF OVER:
20 | 18 Runs | GAW: 171/7 | RR: 8.55

  • Dwaine Pretorius20 (10b)
  • Shamar Joseph6 (3b)
  • Mohammad Amir4-1-39-0
  • Shamar Springer4-0-42-2

10:55pm And...breathe. Another humdinger, and it will take everyone some time to get over this, irrespective of your allegiance. The action in the CPL does not stop, though, and we will be back at it tomorrow, with the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots taking on the Trinbago Knight Riders. Until then, this is goodbye from me (Shashwat), Thilak and Vairavan. Take care, folks!

Imran Tahir, Guyana Amazon Warriors captain: It was a great game of cricket. We showed our character. We believed that anyone can finish the job and I am just really happy and pleased. We know he (Shepherd) can hit the ball and he did that for us last year as well. We have Keemo Paul, we have batting till no.9, even our no.9 came in and hit a six (tonight). We had a good start, we kept losing wickets but as I said, we showed our character and proved we can overcome any challenge. I want to thank everyone (the fans). Back in Guyana, everyone would be watching the game and will be proud. I want to thank them for their support, and that (playing in Guyana) is the best atmosphere.

Chris Green, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons captain: It is unfortunate to go down off the last ball. We could easily be sitting here two from two or one from two but unfortunately, we are none from two. Incredibly proud of the way we fought, got ahead of the game. We move forward from here. Amir is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He has had so much success in the CPL and loves bowling the hard overs. Every now and then, a result like that happens (when you bowl the hard overs). Watch this space in the next few matches, he will probably take a lot of wickets and not concede many runs. (Where they lost the game) You can find so many small moments in the game, but I don't really know. Maybe 5-10 runs short with the bat. Really good surface here, hard to stop set batters. With the ball, we missed our spots at the back end but full credit to Romario and Pretorius. He (Pretorius) got a little lucky with the inside edge but the shots over long off and cover, sometimes you just have to stand back and clap. Two losses (in such fashion), sick feeling in the stomach. But we have played some really good cricket. Still eight games left and if we apply our learnings, it will put us in a good place later on.

Gudakesh Motie, Player of the Match: Hard work pays off, have been working hard over the years and happy that I am getting the success now. Lovely to be back. A bunch of amazing guys and happy to be with the team. (On his batting role) Not a pinch-hitter. It is a team decision. I know I have the ability to strike the ball. Working hard at the moment and want to take it on a game-to-game basis. I was not nervous, I know the capability of my teammates. On the last ball, I was a bit nervous. He (Amir) put it right in the slot and made it easier for us.

10:37pm Proper carnage and chaos at the end. But Pretorius was a picture of calmness and composure, even as Amir, an experienced international bowler, crumbled under the weight of expectation. With five balls left, the Warriors needed 16 but two boundaries, both of them conceded in areas where there were no fielders, set in motion a remarkable turnaround - signed, sealed and delivered ultimately with a crushing blow.

Prior to that mayhem, Shepherd has caused his own share of carnage, smashing 32 off 16 and keeping the Warriors in the hunt, massively helped by being dropped when he had scored just a solitary run. None of the others really got into any sort of rhythm, even though Hope scratched around for 41 off 34. The Warriors, thus, might feel they have gotten out of jail here, and that, as cliche as it sounds, is what champions do. They win even when they are not quite at their best.

Another steep learning curve for the Falcons. They have now come agonizingly close on successive days. Tonight, though, might sting a little more because they had the game within their grasp, especially when five balls were left. Their planning and execution, especially in the last over, left a bit to be desired. That aside, their left-arm-spin pair bowled superbly and ensured they had control of the game for much of the second innings. It could not come to pass in the end, but the Falcons will take a lot from this experience, and will hope to utilize it positively moving forward.

19.6
6
Mohammad Amir to Pretorius, SIX, Pretorius wins it for the Warriors with a corker of a stroke, and the Falcons have been denied at the death once again! A nerveless, a nerveless display by the South African, and the Warriors come rushing out to embrace him! Another wide yorker that goes wrong and ends up in the slot outside off. Pretorius lines it up, goes through the line and crrruunnnncheesssss it over long off! The Falcons do not know what has hit them. They were soaring, they were in the ascendancy, they seemingly had it in the bag. But Pretorius, showing off the warrior spirit that made the Warriors champions last season, was not going to go down without a fight. Not without proving why they are the defending champions!

Four needed off the last ball. What does Amir bowl?

19.5
4
Mohammad Amir to Pretorius, FOUR, what a shot under pressure! Amir goes for the wide yorker again but errs on the shorter side, allowing Pretorius to get under it. Supreme bat speed and he scythes it over point!
19.4
0
Mohammad Amir to Pretorius, no run, back of a length delivery, pushed across the batter outside off. Pretorius has a waft at it but does not lay bat on ball. That is the line Amir should be bowling with the field he has
19.3
4
Mohammad Amir to Pretorius, FOUR, back to back boundaries! Into the blockhole on middle and off. Pretorius jams down on it and somehow, squeezes it behind square. No chance for the fielder at backward square leg, and the Warriors are right back into the contest!
19.2
4
Mohammad Amir to Pretorius, FOUR, no one there, and the Warriors inch four runs closer! Goes for the surprise leg-stump yorker and pays the price. Low full toss on the pads and Pretorius clips it behind square, where there is no fielder!
19.1
0
Mohammad Amir to Pretorius, no run, angled across the batter outside off and takes it outside Pretorius' hitting arc. Massive dot for the Falcons

16 off 6. Amir to bowl. Pretorius on strike. This is going to go down to the wire. Who are you backing?

END OF OVER:
19 | 13 Runs 1 Wkt | GAW: 153/7 (16 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.05, RRR: 16.00)

  • Shamar Joseph6 (3b)
  • Dwaine Pretorius2 (4b)
  • Shamar Springer4-0-42-2
  • Mohammad Amir3-1-21-0
18.6
6
Springer to Joseph, SIX, oh, hello! Length outside off and Joseph climbs into it. Watches the ball much better, holds his shape and whips it over the deep square leg fence. NONCHALANT!
18.5
0
Springer to Joseph, no run, another cutter on a length outside off. Joseph swings like a rusty gate again and misses it by a mile
18.4
0
Springer to Joseph, no run, length outside off. Joseph has a wild swing at it, without really watching the ball. The ball and the bat end up in different postcodes eventually

Joseph to try his luck with the willow now. Springer goes around the wicket

18.3
W
Springer to Shepherd, OUT, bails everywhere, the stumps light up, and Springer answers the Falcons' prayer! Angled in on a length on middle and leg. Could be argued that this was in the slot for Shepherd too. He tries to smash it into the ocean but loses his shape just a touch. Misses the ball altogether and it thuds into the stumps. Shepherd is disgusted with himself; Springer absolutely over the moon. This could be the game!

R Shepherd b Springer 32 (16b 0x4 4x6) SR: 200.00

18.2
6
Springer to Shepherd, SIX, more frequent flying miles for the ball! Rank full toss on leg stump, and Shepherd has that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Swings freely at it and clobbers it over cow corner!
18.1
1
Springer to Pretorius, 1 run, top yorker on off stump. Pretorius digs it out towards deep cover point

29 off 12. The Warriors continue to fight. Springer to bowl the penultimate over. Pretorius on strike

END OF OVER:
18 | 18 Runs | GAW: 140/6 (29 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.77, RRR: 14.50)

  • Romario Shepherd26 (14b)
  • Dwaine Pretorius1 (3b)
  • Mohammad Amir3-1-21-0
  • Chris Green4-0-32-2
17.6
6
Mohammad Amir to Shepherd, SIX, taxi, where are you?! Amir gets the yorker wrong and bowls it right into Shepherd's wheelhouse outside off. Shepherd lays back deep in his crease and wallops this a mile over wide long on!
17.5
0
Mohammad Amir to Shepherd, no run, appeal for a caught-behind, not given! Speared in full outside off. Shepherd tries to carve it over cover and the bat seems to hit the ground. Amir appeals, thinking there is a nick but the umpire is not interested. No review either. Replays confirm the noise was of the bat hitting the ground
17.5
1w
Mohammad Amir to Shepherd, 1 wide, wild delivery bowled a mile outside off. Left alone by Shepherd and called a wide. That almost landed on that adjacent strip
17.4
2
Mohammad Amir to Shepherd, 2 runs, yorker on off. Shepherd snaps his wrists into action and flicks it towards deep mid wicket. Retains strike with a brace
17.3
1
Mohammad Amir to Pretorius, 1 run, full and wide outside off. Pretorius reaches out for it and clinks it towards extra cover
17.2
1
Mohammad Amir to Shepherd, 1 run, very full outside off. Shepherd tries to hit it too hard and squirts it off the inside edge to the right of the pitch. Just a single
17.1
6
Mohammad Amir to Shepherd, SIX, pick the bones out of this! Back of a length outside off. Shepherd picks the length early, takes a step across his stumps and clubs it into the sightscreen!
17.1
1w
Mohammad Amir to Shepherd, 1 wide, starts off with a wide. Well outside off and beyond the tramlines too, meaning that it was an easy decision for the umpire after Shepherd swished and missed

Amir to bowl the 18th. 47 needed off 18. Amir will likely bowl this over and the last. Shepherd on strike

END OF OVER:
17 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | GAW: 122/6 (47 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.17, RRR: 15.66)

  • Dwaine Pretorius0 (2b)
  • Romario Shepherd11 (9b)
  • Chris Green4-0-32-2
  • Shamar Springer3-0-29-1
16.6
0
Green to Pretorius, no run, fired in very full on the pads. Pretorius plays all over it and the ball thuds into his pads. Superb comeback by Green after conceding 16 off 3 earlier in the over
16.5
0
Green to Pretorius, no run, fullish on middle and leg. Pretorius has a stab at it and chunks it off the inside edge towards short fine leg

Pretorius joins Shepherd

16.4
W
Green to Hope, OUT, Green gets Hope, and that is an enormous moment in the game! Speared in full outside off, and this seems to swerve away ever so slightly. Hope looks to go inside out and to be fair to him, the shot was on. The execution, however, is not quite on point and all he does is pick out deep cover. Hope is distraught and cannot believe what he has done; Green and the Falcons, meanwhile, jubilant!

SD Hope c Andrew b Green 41 (34b 2x4 2x6) SR: 120.58

Amazon 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st7G MotieRahmanullah Gurbaz
2nd31SD HopeRahmanullah Gurbaz
3rd29SD HopeSO Hetmyer
4th10SD HopeAzam Khan
5th23SD HopeKMA Paul
6th22SD HopeR Shepherd
7th25D PretoriusR Shepherd
8th24D PretoriusS Joseph