South Africa all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius who has represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) finished the run chase in style against Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir. In the last over, Guyana Amazon Warriors needed 16 runs to win against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. With four runs needed off last ball, Pretorius smashed a six over long-off to lead Warriors to a thrilling three-wicket win at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.
Earlier, Warriors captain Imran Tahir won the toss and opted to bowl first. Teddy Bishop was run out for a single-digit score. Kofi James contributed with a 24-ball 37 before getting bowled by Gudakesh Motie. The left-arm spinner dismissed Sam Billings and a young Jewel Andrew as well. Opener Fakhar Zaman who played the anchor’s role missed his half-century. Pretorius got Zaman’s wicket in the 15th over. He scored 40 runs from 33 balls including three fours and a couple of sixes. Imad Wasim’s 21-ball 40 helped Falcons post 168/6 despite Fabian Allen’s slow knock of 11 from 15 balls.
Alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Motie opened the innings, but in the first over, Falcons captain Chris Green bowled him out. Wasim’s first victim was Gurbaz. In the fifth over, the wicketkeeper-batter was out for a 20 off 14 balls. Gudakesh Motiewas bowled a maiden over by Amir. Warriors led 41/2 at the end of the powerplay. Hetmyer was dismissed by Wasim in the tenth over after hitting a couple of fours and a six. In the twelfth over, Azman Khan was bowled out by Shamar Springer for no apparent reason. While Keemo Paul was attempting to hit Fabian Allen for a six over long-on, Shai Hope grabbed onto one end.
Warriors needed to score 63 runs in the final four overs to win. Green’s last over cost a lot of money. He had three extras at first. Then Hope and Romario Shepherd each gave him a six. Green had a chance to score a 34-ball 41. 18 runs were made in the 18th over thanks to two sixes from Shepherd off of AMir. Shepherd smashed a six in the penultimate over, but Springer bowled him out. 32 runs came off of 16 balls for him. On the penultimate ball of the over, Shamar Joseph struck a six.
