GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Shadab Khan scored a boundary-studded cameo and Alzarri Joseph ran over the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ top order to lead the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons to a comprehensive 65-run win in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League here on Tuesday.
Shadab Khan blasted an unbeaten 30 off just nine ballsJoseph snared four wickets – including the prized scalps of Shai Hope and Rahmanullah Gurbaz – to skittle out the Amazon Warriors for 117 in 14.2 overs, well short of the Falcons’ total of 182 for five at Providence Stadium in their top-of-the-table clash.
The win propeled the Falcons to 13 points from their 10 games and helped them secure a place in Qualifier 1, with a more than likely rematch against the Amazon Warriors looming.
The Amazon Warriors, who have 12 points from seven games, need just one win from their three remaining matches to finish top of the table.
Having romped to six consecutive victories, the Amazon Warriors’ bowling unit seemed to be in full control with the Patriots stuck in first gear at 102 for two at the end of 14 overs.
But the dismissals of Amir Jangoo for a pedestrian 27 off 30 balls and Hasan Nawaz, who scored 36 off 27 balls, sparked a late assault spearheaded by Shadab Khan that saw the Patriots bludgeon 72 runs off the last five overs.
Captain Moeen Ali smashed Romario Shepherd for two sixes in the 18th over before being caught at short third man for 18 off 12 balls.
Fabian Allen hit Shamar Joseph for a six and Khan inside edged him to the fine leg boundary for four in the 19th over that went for 19 runs.
Khan then finished the innings in superb style by clobbering Shepherd for three consecutive sixes and a four in the final over that leaked 26 runs.
Player-of-the-Match Khan scored an unbeaten 30 off just nine balls with three sixes and two fours, while Allen ended on 11 not out – the two sharing an unbroken partnership of 46 off 13 balls.
The Amazon Warriors began positively, with Gurbaz hitting Joseph for two sixes in the opening over of their chase, while Mavendra Dindyal blasted Jayden Seales for a six and a four to see them race to 22 without loss after two overs.
But after being hit for a six over third man and conceding five wides to start the third over, Joseph struck back by bowling Gurbaz for 18 with a beauty of an outswinger.
Three balls later Joseph bounced out Hope for a duck to leave the home side 34 for two.
Shimron Hetmyer was lucky not to be dismissed for a first-ball duck, but his miscued pull shot went just to the left of Joshua James at mid on.
Dindyal was looking good after scoring 25 off 13 balls until he mistimed a drive off Joseph and gave Jayden Seales an easy catch at mid on to leave the score 54 for three in the fifth over.
Joshua James then had Hetmyer caught at point off his first ball and when Khan bowled Quentin Sampson for 12, the Amazon Warriors had collapsed to 74 for five.
Sufyan Moqim accounted for the wickets of Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph cheaply, while Khan dismissed Dwaine Pretorius for one to effectively bring the contest to an end at 99 for eight.
Joseph and James then wrapped up the tail, much to the disappointment of the large crowd on hand to give the Falcons a crucial win.
Joseph ended with figures of 4-41, James took 2-11, Moqim claimed 2-18 and Khan 2-19.
