CPL 2021: Guyana down Jamaica in key match

In a do-or-die encounter against Jamaica Tallawahs, Guyana found their mojo and delivered a sucker punch.

If the Guyana fans had to chose one batsman to bail them out, before the match, they would have opted for Nicholas Pooran.

After all, Pooran has been the most consistent batter for the Warriors in the ongoing edition of the CPL.

The left-hander has scored 228 runs from eight innings at an average of 38 and a stupendous strike rate of 162.85.

Yet again, Pooran rose to the occasion when it mattered.

Pooran is da man

He arrived in the ninth over at 63 for 3 and scored a magnificent 75 off just 39 balls.

His innings was studded with four boundaries and seven hits over the fence.

Undeterred by the early dismissals of Brandon King, Hemraj and Hetmyer, Pooran scored the majority of his team’s runs as Guyana ended at 169 for 6.

Pooran was brutal against Veerasammy Permaul early on, heaving him over the leg side rope to get off the mark.

Next, he disdainfully swatted him for another six two balls later.

Pooran completed his 50 in just 30 balls by smashing an Andre Russell yorker over short third man for a boundary in the 19th over.

Another attempted wide yorker by Russell met even worse treatment, disappearing over extra cover for six.

Pooran made short work of Carlos Bathwaite in the 20th over by clobbering two more sixes to take his tally to seven as he put Guyana in an impregnable position.

Odean Smith does it with the ball

Odean Smith has been excellent for the Warriors in the 2021 edition of the CPL.

In nine matches, the medium fast bowler has picked up 13 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.05.

He has also scored 117 runs at an average of 23.40 but today he showed his quality with the ball.

Tallawahs were cruising at 63 for 1 in the ninth over before Smith disrupted the chase with his medium pace by dismissing two set batsmen.

His first victim was Haider Ali who tried to heave Smith over the leg side but could only top-edge a swirler to Shoaib Malik.

Next, Chandrapaul Hemraj then took a tremendous low catch at short extra cover off a scorching drive from Kirk McKenzie to leave the Tallawahs at 63 for 3.

But Smith’s best moment came in the 15th when he bowled a wicket maiden that included the key wicket of Russell who mistimed a heave to long-on.

Smith was ably supported by Gudakesh Motie who bagged 3 wickets for just 25 runs.

First, Motie got Rovman Powell to punch the ball straight to Smith at mid-off at the end of the 14th over.

He followed that with the wickets of Brathwaite who edged the ball to extra cover.

His best ball was one that spun sharply to leave Shamarh Brooks stranded outside the crease as Bramble completed a fine stumping.

From 63 for 3, the Tallawahs quickly collapsed to 101 for 7.

The writing was on the wall as they folded up for 123 with five balls left left.

Guyana Amazon Warriors 169 for 6 (Pooran 75, Russell 2-35) beat Jamaica Tallawahs 123 all out (Snith 3-21, Motie 3-25) by 46 runs