JAM VS GUY MATCH 25

Right then, that's all from this game, but we are just getting started in the Guyana leg of the 2023 Caribbean Premier League. The action continues on September 15, when the Guyana Amazon Warriors take on the Saint Lucia Kings at this very venue. The first ball will be bowled at 4.30 am IST (11.00 pm GMT, the previous day), but our build-up will begin much sooner. See you then, cheers!

Guyana Amazon Warriors' captain Imran Tahir says that Tallawahs had a good start but they have a unit that can come back. Adds that it was a great team effort to restrict them to around 150. Mentions that the local players bring in a lot of value and they need to give them the opportunity to perform. Shares that they want to improve each day and challenge themselves in different scenarios. Closes by thanking the fans for their support.

Brandon King, the skipper of the Jamaica Tallawahs, says that he tweaked his groin while batting and hopes to be fit for the next game. Feels that they faltered with the bat in the last 8 overs. Adds that the pitch wasn't easy to bat. Reckons that 170-180 would have been a challenging total. States that they did not start well with the ball. Also says that he is disappointed that he could not carry on. Shares that they haven't had a complete game with the bat yet but they know what the issues are.

Saim Ayub is the Player of the Match for his exceptional knock of 85 runs from 53 balls. He says that it’s a match-winning knock and that he is happy that they won the game. Adds that the pitch was a bit difficult as they had to choose poor balls and the bowlers to cash in. Mentions that Matthew Nandu is a talented youngster and played a fine knock on his debut. Closes by saying that he is happy to finish in the top 2 but the goal is to win the tournament.

Time for the presentations...

Earlier in the game, after Imran Tahir won the toss and opted to bowl first, the Jamaica Tallawahs' skipper, Brandon King, made his intentions clear straight away. He was quick to get off the blocks and found an able alley in Kirk McKenzie. King, with his third fifty of the competition, set a good platform for the rest of the batters to build on. Once this stand was broken, the Tallawahs lost their way as the boundaries dried up in the middle phase. Towards the end, cameos from Raymon Reifer and Fabien Allen propelled them to 152. For the Guyana Amazon Warriors, skipper Imran Tahir was their most economical bowler on the night with figures of 1 for 19 from his four overs, while Dwaine Pretorius was slightly expensive but had two wickets to his name.

As far as the Jamaica Tallawahs are concerned, their forgettable campaign continues, as the defending champions have been handed their fifth straight defeat. The Tallawahs did finish strongly with the bat, but at the halfway mark, it looked like a below-par total. Early wickets were the key for them to have any chance, but it did not go accordingly for them. In the absence of Mohammad Amir, they lacked the cutting edge, as neither the pacers nor the spinners were able to keep the batters in check or pick up wickets. Brought back into the attack, Chris Green did manage to see the back of Matthew Nandu, but the damage had already been done. Shamar Springer and Salman Irshad did manage to strike in consecutive overs towards the end, but it was too little, too late for them.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors begin their home leg with a resounding victory! Imran Tahir's men cruise home with 9 balls to spare, and by doing so, they have assured themselves of a top-two finish. In their pursuit of 153, Saim Ayub and debutant Matthew Nandu were watchful in the first couple of overs. As both batters grew in confidence, they started finding boundaries and got their side off to a solid start in the powerplay. Ayub, the aggressor of the two batters, brought up his third consecutive fifty, while Nandu was impressive in playing the second fiddle. Nandu's departure did not deter Ayub, who continued his onslaught and took the Warriors to the cusp of victory before being dismissed. In the end, Shai Hope provided the finishing touches and took the Warriors over the line.

FOUR! GAME. SET. MATCH! Guyana Amazon Warriors win by 7 wickets with more than an over to spare and are still unbeaten in the tournament. Full and straight at the stumps. Smith charges down and drills it past the bowler and down the ground for a powerful boundary. A thumping win for the home side.

Flat, on off. Hope punches it to long-off for one.

FOUR!! Nicely done! Tossed up on the middle and leg. Hope goes inside out to the deep extra cover fence for a beautiful boundary.

Odean Smith walks out to bat.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Short of a length, just outside off. Azam Khan looks to cut this one but gets an inside edge and plays it back onto the stumps. Azam Khan's poor run of form continues in the competition.

Goes short, around the middle stump line. Azam Khan sways out of line.

Short of a length, outside off. Hope swivels and pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Bangs it short and around the middle and leg stump line. Hope ducks and lets it go.

Back of a length, outside off. Hope punches it past mid-off and a good stop by Hales keeps it to two.