GAW vs BR | Shimron Hetmyer and Gudakesh Motie star as Warriors stake claim to play first qualifier

Guyana Amazon Warriors will play in the first qualifier of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 after their 64-run win against Barbados Royals in Guyana on Monday. Shimron Hetmyer top-scored in the match with a 39-ball 68, while Quentin Sampson also hit a half-century to power the home side to a formidable 189/6 in 20 overs. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie’s five-wicket haul ensured that the Warriors leapfrogged Trinbago Knight Riders to finish second in the points table.

After being put in to bat at the Providence Stadium, the Warriors' opener Quentin Sampson hit a six and four in the first two overs before a horrible mix-up resulted in fellow opener Ben McDermott’s run out. The home side ended the powerplay at 41/1 as Shai Hope and Sampson added 51 runs for the second wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter perished to a flighted delivery off leg spinner Zishan Motara as he tried to force the pace in the middle overs. The opener shifted gears after Hope’s dismissal, smashing a six of Motara and followed it up with another big over of Kofi James as the Warriors were placed at 88/2 at the halfway stage. Sampson completed his fifty in 35 balls before being sent back by Sherfane Rutherford off the very next ball. Shimron Hetmyer then took over the mantle, smashing three sixes and eight fours, while Romario Shepherd hit 20 off 13 as the hosts surged to a formidable total. Medium pacer Rutherford was the pick among the Royals’ bowlers with a spell of 2/35.

In response, the visitors could manage just 125 before being skittled out in the penultimate over with 10 balls to spare. Pacers Dwaine Pretorius and Shamar Joseph struck with the new ball as the Royals slid to 32/3 at the end of the powerplay. The Royals never recovered from their initial wobble as left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie ran through the middle and lower order to finish with impressive figures of 5/21 in 3.2 overs. James delayed the inevitable with an enterprising cameo of 26 off 13 balls, including three fours and a six, before being Motie’s fourth scalp, with the match ending off the very next ball.