Guyana Amazon Warriors opened their CPL 2025 campaign in style, brushing aside St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with a clinical all-round performance. Their bowlers first restricted the Patriots to a modest total, before Ben McDermott’s blazing 75 off 39 balls and Shai Hope’s unbeaten 56 off 39 ensured a comfortable chase, sealed with 16 balls to spare.
Opting to bowl first, the Warriors struck early. The Patriots suffered a setback in the second over when Evin Lewis — fresh from a fluent knock the previous night — injured his bottom hand while attempting a swivel-pull off Shamar Joseph. He had to retire hurt, leaving the innings unsettled.
Dwaine Pretorius dismissed Kyle Mayers soon after, but Andre Fletcher and Rilee Rossouw added some stability. Their 45-run stand never quite shifted gears, with Rossouw scratching his way to 12 off 14 before falling to veteran Imran Tahir. Fletcher battled on for a 41-ball 60, but wickets at the other end meant the Patriots never built real momentum. A late flourish from Jyd Goolie (24 off 15)* and Abbas Afridi (10 off 5) nudged them to a below-par 139 for 6. Pretorius (3 wickets) and Tahir (2) led a disciplined Warriors attack, with every bowler contributing.
The chase began with a hiccup as Kevlon Anderson fell early to Fazalhaq Farooqi, but McDermott’s aggressive strokeplay quickly tilted the game. He dominated the powerplay, ensuring Warriors matched the Patriots’ 55 for 1 despite losing a wicket. His innings, laced with 10 fours and 4 sixes, put the chase firmly under control.
Hope then took charge, accelerating in the middle overs. Together, the pair added 114 for the second wicket off just 59 balls, a partnership that highlighted exactly what the Patriots had missed when Fletcher was left carrying the innings. Though McDermott fell in the 11th over, Hope held firm, guiding the Warriors home with authority.
The result gave the Patriots a reality check just a day after their opening-night win over Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, while the Amazon Warriors announced themselves as serious contenders with bat and ball.
