The Sports Desk
ST Kitts and Nevis Patriots kept their hopes of reaching the playoff alive in the CPL 2025 with a five-run victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence. Whilst Defending 149 it went till the last over, where Naseem Shah kept his cool to bowl excellent death balls to win it for the visitors. Requiring 11 off the last six balls, Naseem trapped Keemo Paul leg before on the first delivery and used the yorker and slower ones shrewdly to give away only five in the final over. This vital win halted the Patriots’ three-match losing run, but they must still defeat Barbados Royals in their last league game and also rely on other results.
The win was done and dusted when Mohammad Rizwan played one of his best CPL innings under pressure. Cornered at 26 for 3 inside the powerplay, Rizwan batted through the innings with a splendid 85 off 62 balls. He was both cautious and attacking, making 36 from 30 balls before stepping on the accelerator and plundering 49 from the next 32. His knock, studded with eight fours and three sixes, was instrumental in guiding the Patriots to 149 for 6 despite a wobbly beginning. Rilee Rossouw and Navin Bidaisee created little but useful partnerships, Bidaisee was not out on 22. Rizwan’s late surge was particularly crucial, as it helped his side score 45 runs in the last four overs.
Early on, the Amazon Warriors appeared in control, and made 41 for 1 after six overs. But the Patriots hit back with wickets at crucial moments. Hassan Khan smacked to mid-wicket where Dominic Drakes took a sharp caught and bowled chance and Shai Hope was bowled by a low one from Navin Bidaisee. Waqar Salamkheil’s twin blows in the middle overs, dismissing Dwaine Pretorius too, compounded Guyana’s chase. Romario Shepherd and Keemo Paul had made a late bid for a counter-attack, with Shepherd surviving a close call and hitting a six to take the match to the last over. But Jason Holder removed Shepherd in the 19th over and that win was enough for the Patriots.
Quenton Sampson gave the Warriors a glimmer of hope with two boundaries to make it 11 runs from the last over, but Naseem Shah once again showed his class to seal things. The Patriots came out winners thanks to his accurate bowling and Amazon Warriors fell agonisingly short on 144 for 8. The reward was two vital points for the Patriots and was a demonstration of the value of their Pakistan stars, Rizwan’s batting heroics and Naseem’s death bowling the difference. For now its not yet known where they end up in the playoffs but an ugly victory keeps them in contention, and sets up an all-important contest against Barbados Royals.
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