How Did Motie’s Four-Wicket Haul Propel Amazon Warriors to the CPL Final?

Guyana, Sep 18 (NationPress) Gudakesh Motie delivered an exceptional performance with his left-arm spin, leading the Guyana Amazon Warriors to their third consecutive final in the Caribbean Premier League. They defeated the St Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 at Providence Stadium, Guyana. Motie’s impressive four-wicket haul was pivotal in dismantling the defending champions, who faltered in their pursuit of 158 runs, securing the Warriors a spot in Sunday’s championship match.

Initially, the Warriors appeared to be struggling at 116 for 6 in the 16th over. However, a remarkable late-order blitz from Romario Shepherd (21 off 8) and Dwaine Pretorius (17 off 8) propelled the total to a competitive 157, with a remarkable 41 runs scored in the last four overs. Shai Hope anchored the innings with a solid 32 off 29 balls after Moeen Ali’s early dismissal left the middle order vulnerable.

The Kings’ response quickly crumbled. Pretorius made early inroads, dismissing Tim Seifert and Ackeem Auguste, while Shepherd accounted for Johnson Charles, leaving them in dire straits at 3 for 3 within three overs. A brief recovery by Roston Chase and Aaron Jones brought the score to 37 for 3 after the powerplay, keeping them within reach of the Warriors, who had scored 45 for 1 in the same overs.

Then came Motie’s stunning display. He bowled out Chase while attempting an ambitious shot, took out Tim David on his first delivery, and had Jones dismissed by Imran Tahir. When David Wiese, the Kings’ captain, was caught at long-off during Motie’s second over, the scoreboard read an alarming 48 for 7 — a nearly insurmountable position.

Despite the odds, a late fightback ensued. Khary Pierre, who had previously stifled the Warriors with figures of 1 for 15 in the powerplay, showcased his talent by scoring his maiden T20 half-century, hitting 50 off 28 balls, while Tymal Mills provided crucial support. Their efforts momentarily reignited hopes for the Kings, with Mills scoring 13 runs in Shepherd’s final over as they pushed towards the finish line.

However, Pierre's dismissal at 85 for 8 dashed any remaining hopes, and despite Mills’ valiant effort, the Kings fell short. They now face a must-win match against Trinbago Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 to keep their title defense alive.

Brief scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 157 all out in 19.5 overs (Ben McDermott 34, Shai Hope 32; Tabraiz Shamsi 3/33, David Wiese 2/14) defeated St Lucia Kings 143 all out in 19.1 overs (Khary Pierre 50, Tymal Mills 30; Gudakesh Motie 4/30, Imran Tahir 2/22) by 14 runs.