Twitter Reactions: Devon Thomas, Evin Lewis smother Guyana Amazon Warriors

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, the cellar dwellers of CPL 2020, have made an incredible start to the ongoing edition. The Dwayne Bravo-led unit has won both their first two games and are placed atop the points table. On Saturday, they defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by eight wickets.

Hafeez, Pooran, Hemraj guide the Warriors

After electing to bat first, the Warriors could only manage 146 for the loss of eight wickets. Barring Chandrapaul Hemraj, the rest of the top five batters strained. Hemraj scored 39 off 30 with one four and three sixes. Fawad Ahmed accounted for his wicket in the 12th over of the Warriors’ innings.

Skipper Nicholas Pooran was looking ominous, having scored a 10-ball 23 with three sixes. However, Fabian Allen got his prized wicket. In the end, Mohammad Hafeez’s unbeaten 38 guided the Warriors. For the Patriots, Dominic Drakes was the most successful as he picked up three wickets.

Lewis, Thomas step up

The Patriots made a stupendous start to their run-chase courtesy of a 113-run stand for the opening wicket between Evin Lewis and Devon Thomas. The latter was cautious early on, but Lewis played his strokes. Lewis went on to notch 62 off 39 balls and his knock was laced with four fours and five sixes.

After Lewis perished, Thomas upped the ante and stayed unbeaten on a 54-ball 55 with seven fours and one six. The Patriots chased the target down with seven balls to spare. For the Warriors, Hafeez was effective as he conceded 18 runs in four overs, though he couldn’t make a breakthrough.

Credit to the entire bowling group: Dwayne Bravo

After the Warriors’ defeat, Pooran said that his team couldn’t get to the total they wanted to. Bravo lauded the pacers for restricting the in-form Warriors batters. He also had words of praise for Lewis and Thomas.

“We were 15-20 short. We did get a few in the back end but we were short. A lot of talented players but we need to get the right combination. I want to win games for my team. I am doing right now what is best for my team,” Pooran was quoted as saying.

“A great team effort. Credit to the entire bowling group. Well done to all my bowlers. It is a wicket that offers both spin and pace. It is a fairly small ground. As long as you play the game smart, you will do well as a batter. Thomas and Lewis did well to chase this tricky total down,” Bravo said.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to the Patriots’ victory