Opting to bat first, the Kings set a massive total of 198/5 on the board, thanks to the half-centuries by the opening duo of Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis. While Johnson Charles contributed with an explosive innings of 79 off just 45 balls, Faf du Plessis once again played the captain’s knock by smashing five fours and three sixes to score 57 off 36.
Johnson Charles (79 off 45) and Faf du Plessis (57 off 36) continued their stellar partnership form this season as Saint Lucia Kings beat Guyana Amazon Warriors by 15 runs (DLS method) in Qualifier 1. The duo’s fifties got the Kings to an imposing total of 198/5 – a target that proved tough for Warriors who slipped to 106/4 before rain had the final say in the contest with the hosts behind the DLS par score
Pitch and Toss
Pitch Report: First of all, the light towers are working fine and hopefully we won’t have a situation like the Eliminator. Talking about the dimensions, the square boundaries are 64m and 65m and the straight boundary is 71m. This is the same pitch that was used in the last game and it looks dry. One of the key things will be how the spinners operate. How the batters negotiate the spinners will be important, reckons Samuel Badree
Toss : Saint Lucia Kings skipper Faf Du Plessis won the toss and chose to bat with two changes including Matthew Forde and Johann Jeremiah in the playing XI. Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper Imran Tahir bowling first made one change in the playing XI as Kevlon misses out and Reifer is back in.
Faf Du Plessis and Johnson Charles fifties charge SLK to 198 for 5
For the Kings, it’s a template that’s worked so well for them with Johnson Charles and Faf Du Plessis setting things up. The former in particular was at his lethal best, taking apart pacers and spinners alike with aplomb. It allowed Faf Du Plessis to breath easy but the South African also didn’t shy away from punishing the bowling.
Johnson Charles’ much improved game against spin has been the talking point this season and the burly opener once again showed his wares against Warriors’ potent spin attack. The opening stand was worth 124 off just 70 balls and they made the pitch look a lot easier than it was.
After the duo’s dismissals, the home side managed to pull things back and kept the score under 200 but it was still a tough chase under these conditions. Apart from Moeen Ali (2-24) and skipper Imran Tahir (0-29), all the Guyana bowlers got a pasting as they struggled to create pressure.
The Kings delivered a powerful performance in their innings, amassing a formidable total of 198 runs for 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Leading the charge was Johnson Charles, who played an explosive knock of 79 runs off 45 balls, exhibiting remarkable stroke play with 8 fours and 5 sixes. He was ably supported by captain Faf du Plessis, who contributed 57 runs from 36 deliveries.
The Kings capitalized on a strong powerplay, scoring 69 runs without losing a wicket, and maintained the momentum throughout their innings. Contributions from Roston Chase and Tim Seifert, who both added 18 runs, bolstered the total, while David Wiese provided a quick finish with an unbeaten 13 runs. The Kings’ aggressive batting style overwhelmed the Warriors, setting a daunting target.
GAW faltered in a rain curtailed chase despite fight from Shimron Hetmyer
The Warriors then punted with Keemo Paul as the pin hitting opener for this tall chase but it didn’t work. The all-rounder scratched around for a 15-ball 14 before holing out against Alzarri Joseph. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (24 off 18) and Shai Hope (27 off 22) got starts but neither were able to kick on as they perished to the scoreboard pressure.
Hetmyer started slowly but on seeing a couple of wickets fall around him, decided to take the attack to the opposition. The left-hander pumped Noor Ahmad for successive sixes and then belted a couple more in the next over from Roston Chase. Guyana were starting to gain some momentum but unfortunately for them, that over turned out to be the last one of the game as the rains arrived to put a premature end to the game. Warriors have another shot at making the final and they will now face the Royals in Qualifier 2.
Due to the match being hit by rain, GAW were asked to chase 122 in 13 overs, after the implication of the DLS method. After scalping two early wickets of both openers at the score of 51, the SLK bowlers then limited the GAW’s middle order from scoring quick runs by picking two more wickets of Shai Hope and Dwaine Pretorius before they could cross the 77-run mark.
Chasing a revised target of 122 runs in 13 overs due to rain, the Warriors faced immediate challenges, losing Keemo Paul for just 14 runs and Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 24 runs. The team found itself in early trouble at 22 for 2, putting pressure on their middle order. Shai Hope, with 27 runs off 22 balls, attempted to stabilize the innings but struggled to form partnerships as wickets continued to tumble.
The onus fell on Shimron Hetmyer, who fought valiantly, scoring an unbeaten 37 runs from 18 balls, but with the required run rate steadily rising, the Warriors couldn’t accelerate as needed. Their innings concluded at 106 for 4, resulting in a disappointing loss, unable to chase down the revised target.
The Kings’ bowlers played a pivotal role in defending their total, with Khary Pierre and Alzarri Joseph standing out in the bowling attack. Pierre delivered an economical spell, conceding just 23 runs in 3 overs, while Joseph provided crucial breakthroughs, claiming 1 wicket for 9 runs in his 2 overs.
The disciplined bowling restricted the Warriors’ scoring options, forcing them into mistakes and ultimately leading to the fall of wickets at crucial intervals. The Kings maintained control over the game, displaying both tactical acumen and execution, which proved vital in their victory.
Alzarri Joseph, Noor Ahmad, David Wiese and Roston Chase picked a wicket each to help the team successfully defend the target, as GAW could only muster 106/4 in 13 overs, falling short by 15 runs. Johnson Charles was named the Player of the Match.
Brief scores: Saint Lucia Kings 198/5 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 79, Faf du Plessis 57; Moeen Ali 2-24) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 106/4 in 13 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 37*; David Wiese 1-3, Alzarri Joseph 1-9) by 15 runs (DLS method)
Presentations and Road Ahead
Faf Du Plessis the winning skipper said : We wanted to get some runs on the board, in the semifinal. Was an incredible start by Charles. That start set us up, it was a great innings by him. We have been consistent for the last few years, it’s a good partnership between him (Charles) and myself. He has improved against spin, he has worked on his game. To get 190-odd on a surface like that was a great effort.
We are a team that has adapted well wherever we have played. I think we have lost the toss most of the times, but we have done something different. For me it’s a good sign as a team.
We have found ways to win games from different situations. We need to adapt ourselves to whatever is in front of us. I remember a couple of years ago I got injured before the final and that was a big loss for us. It was a last ball finish in that game, we have set some high goals for ourselves this season. Looking forward to the final.
Imran Tahir the loosing skipper said : To be honest they put up a really good total, we let ourselves down in the powerplay. That was a crucial stage, but we came back well to restrict them (in the second half.) The powerplay took everything away from us. We need to come back strongly (against Barbados Royals), we have another chance. Got to give everything we have.
We are trying different options, unfortunately Keemo got out. That ball might have gone to the boundary some other day. We might have another opener in the next game. I thought the ball was getting wet, so it wouldn’t be easy for Moeen. But he bowled well all the way till the death overs, that too with the wet ball.
We are a local team, we know the conditions better more than anyone else. We won’t let our fans down, will come back and win (against Royals), and meet Saint Lucia Kings in the final.
Johnson Charles Player of the Match for his 79 runs said : It’s all about having positive intent. You got to find ways to score, I want to get my team off to a great start, it’s all about keeping the positive intent going. You got to keep up to the pace, the bowlers are trying to get you out and trying to keep you bogged down. The game is evolving, so I am practicing different ways of scoring.
It’s going good for me. We (Faf and himself) feed off each other’s energy, that plays with the players minds. It’s a good understanding between us. We have been trying since many years, this year is ours. I think we have a good chance, it’s our chance to win this (CPL title).
Rain arrived at the wrong time for the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the defending champions lose this game as they fall short of the DLS target by 15 runs. Hetmyer was dealing in sixes and was on the charge, however, the Warriors lost a few wickets before that and that made the chase even more difficult. Earlier in the day, the Saint Lucia Kings played fantastic knocks to set the tone as they posted a daunting total – almost a target of 200 and put the opposition under pressure.
Alzarri Joseph bowled a wicket-maiden in the powerplay, while Wiese, Chase and Noor Ahmad picked up a wicket each to put the Lucia Kings in a commanding position. It was a floodlight failure that interrupted the Eliminator, while rain spoiled the fun for the Warriors today. They get another chance though as they face the Barbados Royals in Qualifier 2. The winner of the second qualifier between the Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals will now face the Kings in the final of CPL 2024 on October 7.