Guyana Warriors advance to playoffs with victory over St Lucia Kings

In Game 29 of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), a highly anticipated matchup unfolded at Providence Stadium, featuring a rematch of last year’s final between the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Saint Lucia Kings.

CPL reported that the match was a nail-biting, high-scoring affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball. The Kings set a challenging target, and the Warriors faced a tense finish needing 12 runs off the final over.

It was the Kings skipper, David Wiese, who bore the responsibility with the ball. Despite a miscued free hit—a waist-high full toss that proved less than ideal—Moeen Ali managed only a single to extra cover on the first ball of the over, maintaining the drama.

The press release shared that tension escalated when a delay occurred due to a need to fix the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Shortly after, those same stumps were shattered by a fierce throw from substitute fielder Shadrack Descarte. The throw resulted in Moeen Ali being run out, short of his ground, further intensifying the contest.

With four runs needed off the final ball, Dwaine Pretorius exemplified composure under pressure by hitting a six over long-on, sealing the Warriors’ victory by two wickets. This win secured their place in the playoffs and dashed the hopes of the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, who now miss out on advancing.

Earlier in the game, Wiese won the toss and chose to bat first. The Kings’ innings got off to a rocky start when Tim Seifert, in good form, was caught off a top-edge slog sweep by Hassan Khan from Gudakesh Motie in just the second over. Johnson Charles then fell for a steady 16 off 16 balls, leaving the Kings at 27-2.

However, Ackeem Auguste and Roston Chase steadied the innings, combining effectively to propel the Kings to a formidable total of 185/4. Chase was particularly outstanding, finishing unbeaten on 90 off 55 balls, with five sixes and six fours. For the Warriors, Dwaine Pretorius was the most successful bowler, claiming 2/36 in his four overs.

In response, Quentin Sampson ignited the chase with a swift 76 off 39 balls, helping the Warriors stay competitive. Shai Hope also contributed a well-crafted 44 off 34 deliveries.

The match ultimately reached a dramatic climax, with the Warriors pulling off a narrow victory on the final ball—avenging their previous loss to the Kings and keeping their tournament hopes alive heading into the final week.