Guyana Amazon Warriors skipper Shoaib Malik warmed up with some runs as his XI defeated a Guyana XI by five wickets when the final practice match concluded under lights on Tuesday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The Pakistan star hit a classy 37 while New Zealand big-hitting opener Luke Ronchi spanked an unbeaten 48 as the Malik-led XI big players warmed up for Thursday’s opener versus the St Kitts Patriots under lights.
Chadwick Walton looked good for his 15, playing a few pulls and cuts while all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford also scored 15.
The Warriors bowlers on the opposition team also got their form going, with the off-spinner Chris Green grabbing 2-20, including the wicket of Malik, while South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir looked good during his spell bagging 2-33, and Keemo Paul 1-21.
Earlier, it was the Warriors spin twins Devendra Bishoo (2-32) and Veerasammy Permaul (3-24), who did the damage as Rayad Emrit’s XI were bowled out inside 20 overs for 110, with the Malik XI being made to chase a much higher total (155, after 45 bonus runs were added).
Trevon Griffith hit 14 while Anthony Bramble chipped in with 16, but it was Chris Barnwell’s 36 which powered their side to the above-average total.
Roshon Primus, who batted twice, hit 13 not out as his top score as Malik grabbed a wicket along with national pacer Clinton Pestano who claimed 2-31. In the end, the Warriors’ key players all had excellent sessions with either bat or ball, thus adding to their confidence ahead of the big game.
Strike bowler Sohail Tanvir was wicketless, but maintained his discipline as a pack leader while Shimron Hetmyer, fresh off a Man-of-the-Series performance in the ODI series versus Bangladesh, smashed an aggressive 17 as he too got into form for the first game, as the Warriors broke their encampment on a high note.
Thursday’s opening game of the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Guyana leg will bowl off at 18:00h at the National Stadium, Providence with the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots looking to upset the Warriors in their backyard.
