PROVIDENCE, Guyana – Jayden Seales delivered a sensational spell of fast bowling and Amir Jangoo scored a crucial, unbeaten half century as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons qualified for the playoff stage of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League for the first time in its history here on Wednesday.
Jayden Seales took four wickets to help dismiss the Guyana Amazon Warriors for just 99.On his 24th birthday, Seales grabbed his second best ever T20 figures of 4-15, to help rout the Guyana Amazon Warriors for just 99 in 18.1 overs at the Providence Stadium.
The Falcons then found themselves in serious trouble at 36 for five, but opener Jangoo came to the rescue with an unbeaten 51 off 57 balls that carried them to 103 for six with five balls remaining in the contest and victory by four wickets.
The win, in their 10th and final preliminary game, propelled the Falcons to 11 points and they joined defending champions Saint Lucia Kings and the Trinbago Knight Riders in the knockout stage of the competition.
Meanwhile, it was the second successive loss for the Amazon Warriors, leaving them in a tussle with the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Barbados Royals for the final playoff spot.
Needing a win to secure a playoff berth, Player-of-the-Match, Seales struck in his second over by having Moeen Ali caught at short third man for 10.
In his ensuing over, Seales shattered Ben McDermott’s stumps and had the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer caught at backward point for a duck to leave the Amazon Warriors 26 for three in the sixth over.
Shai Hope, who top scored with 26, and Hassan Khan then put on 24 runs for the fourth wicket – the highest partnership of the innings.
But once Khan was run out for four, Hope, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius all fell in quick succession, as the Amazon Warriors collapsed to 78 for nine in the 15th over.
Quentin Sampson hit three boundaries in his knock of 19 from 15 balls during a last wicket partnership of 21 with captain Imran Tahir, before Seales returned to bowl him and dismiss the home side for their lowest total in this year’s tournament.
Usama Mir provided good support, finishing with 3-17.
Chasing a subpar total, the Falcons got off to a horrible start when opener Andries Gous was bowled by Pretorius for just one with the fourth ball of the innings.
Tahir then trapped Kevin Wickham and Karima Gore lbw off consecutive deliveries and Shakbi Al Hasan was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Ali, to see the Falcons slip to 24 for four in the fifth over.
The Falcons were in danger of suffering an embarrassing loss when Shamar Springer was bowled by Ali for two to make it 36 for five in the seventh over.
However, Jangoo played a mature and responsible knock, and together with skipper Imad Wasim and then Fabian Allen, stabilised the innings.
He first added 29 with Wasim, who made a patient 16 off 24 balls, before he was run out attempting a second run.
Jangoo then shared an unbroken stand of 38 with Allen, who finished on 15 not out, to carry them to victory.
Jangoo brought up his half century off 54 balls by smashing spinner Gudakesh Motie for one of his two sixes. His innings also included three fours.
For the Amazon Warriors Ali took 2-10 and Imran Tahir 2-27.
