CPL 2017, Match 25, BT vs GAW, Review: Sohail Tanvir’s magical spell keeps Warriors in hunt for playoffs

Guyana Amazon Warriors, riding on Sohail Tanvir’s magical spell, brought down the curtains on Tridents and won an all important clash by a huge margin of 99 runs. Barbados Tridents succumbed to some wonderful swing bowling from Tanvir and could never recover and were bowled out for paltry 59 runs only to make their chances of playoffs tough.

Playing the season’s first match on their home ground, Tridents’ skipper Pollard won the toss and chose to bowl first. Eoin Morgan’s inclusion bolstered the batting for the home side as the visitors replaced Guptill with his own country mate Luke Ronchi. Rayad Emrit led the visitors as Guptill left the tea mid season citing family issues.

Chadwick Walton came out with Sohail Tanvir to open the innings in what was the must win encounter for Warriors. But they got off to a worst possible start as the openers were back in the hut by 4th over. They were scalped by the Parnell and Rampaul which brought Ronchi and Jason Mohammed together for the first time. They counter attacked thanks to former Kiwi and put up 58 on the board till the end of powerplay. The partnership was broken soon after that by the leggie Imran Khan as he disturbed the wood of Ronchi.

Soon Gajanand Singh followed the suit as spinners took control and run rate came down. Fudadin and Mohammed added cautious 42 for the fifth wicket ensuring there is no collapse and set a platform for a huge finish. But lost wickets in the final overs in quest of runs but not before putting up a competitive 158 on the board courtesy Mohammed who scored 42 off 35. Akeal Hosein and Imran Khan bowled well for the hosts and kept the opposition in check.

Tanvir caused mayhem in Tridents’ chase

Dwayne Smith and Williamson opened the innings hoping to give a quick fire start but the latter was dismissed in the first over itself by the magnificent Tanvir. Soon Smith went back off the same bowler as Imran Khan too was gone as the hosts were reduced to 13/3 within 4 overs. Hosts needed to rebuild the chase but Sohail Tanvir had different ideas today. In the very next over he sent Morgan and Pollard back in the dugout off successive deliveries to kill the chase completely. Tridents were now 13/5 as Pakistan pacer’s figures read: 3-1-2-4.

All the mild hopes were pinned on Nicolas Pooran now, the last recognised batsman along with Akeal Hosein. But the Afghan sensation, Rashid Khan, woke up and got him to put the final nail in the coffin for the hosts. They were never allowed to recover as the leggie scalped couple more wickets and Tanvir came back to end the Tridents’ innings on 59 under 14 overs. Their performance was a shocker to their fans as everyone hoped they would be having the home advantage.

Tanvir finished with the second best figures in CPL history 5/3 and Rashid Khan supported him well with 3/15. By the virtue of this huge 99 run victory, the Warriors are well and truly in the competition as they now have 8 wins with one game yet to play. On the other hand, Tridents are left with far more tougher job to do as they have to win all their remaining 3 games. They would also need to pray that Warriors lose their last game as their net run rate is far more superior. Barbados play their next game against the struggling St. Lucia Stars.

Watch Tanvir’s spell here:

Brief Scores

Guyana Amazon Warriors- 158/8 in 20 overs (J Mohammed 42 (35b, 3×4, 2×6); L Ronchi 24 (13b, 3×4, 1×6); Akeal Hosein 1/19, Ravi Rampaul 2/33)

Barbados Tridents- 59/10 in 13.4 overs (A Hosein 17 (25b, 2×4); Sohail Tanvir 5/3, Rashid Khan 3/15)

Guyana Amazon Warriors won by 99 runs

Man of the Match: Sohail Tanvir