CPL: Moties Four-for Powers Amazon Warriors Into Final

West Indies Cricket: Gudakesh Motie produced a devastating spell of left-arm spin to guide Guyana Amazon Warriors into their third consecutive Caribbean Premier League final, dismantling St Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 at Providence Stadium, Guyana. Moties 4-wicket haul triggered a dramatic collapse as the defending champions fell short in their chase of 158, handing Warriors a convincing win and a ticket to Sundays title clash Put in to bat, Warriors innings seemed to be stalling at 116 for 6 in the 16th over. But a blistering lower-order assault from Romario Shepherd (21 off 8) and Dwaine Pretorius (17 off 8) lifted them to a competitive 157, with 41 runs coming in the last four overs. Shai Hopes anchoring 32 off 29 kept the innings together after Moeen Alis dismissal left the middle order exposed. The Kings reply quickly unraveled. Pretorius struck twice in the opening exchanges, removing Tim Seifert and Ackeem Auguste, while Shepherd dismissed Johnson Charles to leave them reeling at 3 for 3 inside three overs. A mini-recovery from Roston Chase and Aaron Jones steadied matters to 37 for 3 after the powerplay, keeping them close to Warriors 45 for 1 at the same stage. Motie then ripped through the heart of the innings. Chase was bowled trying an across-the-line heave, Tim David fell first ball, and Jones was cleaned up by Imran Tahir. When Kings skipper David Wiese holed out to long-off in Moties second over, the scoreboard read 48 for 7a near-impossible position. Yet there was late defiance. Khary Pierre, who had earlier choked Warriors with a spell of 1 for 15 in the powerplay, played the innings of his life. He smashed his maiden T20 half-century, reaching 50 off 28 balls, while Tymal Mills provided support. Their hitting briefly raised Kings hopes, with Mills plundering 13 runs off Shepherds final over to take the chase into the last stretch. Motie then ripped through the heart of the innings. Chase was bowled trying an across-the-line heave, Tim David fell first ball, and Jones was cleaned up by Imran Tahir. When Kings skipper David Wiese holed out to long-off in Moties second over, the scoreboard read 48 for 7a near-impossible position. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Brief scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 157 all out in 19.5 overs (Ben McDermott 34, Shai Hope 32; Tabraiz Shamsi 3/33, David Wiese 2/14) beat St Lucia Kings 143 all out in 19.1 overs (Khary Pierre 50, Tymal Mills 30; Gudakesh Motie 4/30, Imran Tahir 2/22) by 14 runs. Article Source: IANS