The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) team gave the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots something to worry about after completing a stunning practice match on Monday evening.
The practice match, which was the first of two, saw the Warriors side being pitted against some of Guyana’s best senior players.
With the players divided into two teams, the “Shoaib Malik XI” with the likes of Captain Malik, young powerhouse Shimron Hetmyer, Luke Ronchi and newbie Chris Green took on the “Jason Mohamed XI” which featured Akshaya Persaud, Devendra Bishoo, Sohail Tanvir and Trevon Griffith.
Playing in wet conditions, the “Malik XI” took to the pitch first with openers Ronchi and Rutherford going at the ball from ball one. However, Ronchi went early for nine, but that paved the way for some exciting batting from local boy Hetmyer.
With his intentions made clear, the Berbician managed to form crucial partnerships with his fellow Guyanese Rutherford and Captain Malik. After several big hits, it took some magic from Warriors’ go-to-bowler Tanvir in order to send Hetmyer back to the dugout for 66.
Nevertheless, Malik (47) and Rayad Emrit (10) pressed on to take the score to 187 from their allotted 20 overs.
Newcomer to the team, Chris Green, soon had his time to shine as he stepped up to bowl the first over to the Mohamed XI. The South African, coupled with Guyanese Devendra Bishoo, stifled the Jason Mohamed-led side, with both of them picking up two wickets a piece.
At the end of the match-up, Coach Johan Botha could be seen smiling and commending the players on a job well done.
The Warriors will put their skills to the test one last time before the beginning of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2018, with another practice match scheduled for 18:00h (6pm) today at the Providence National Stadium.
