Saint Lucia Kings advanced to the final of the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after securing a 15-run win over the reigning champions, Guyana Amazon Warriors, in a rain-affected match at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
The Kings’ win ensures their place in the final, where they will face the winner of the upcoming match between the Warriors and Barbados Royals, scheduled for Friday.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first was a crucial decision, especially given the weather conditions. Captain Faf du Plessis led his side from the front, forming a 124-run opening partnership with Johnson Charles. This strong foundation enabled the Kings to post a competitive total of 198/5 in their 20 overs.
Charles was in scintillating form and seemed poised for a century before being dismissed for 79 off 45 balls. He was brilliantly caught by Keemo Paul on the long-on boundary off Moeen Ali’s bowling. Du Plessis also contributed a well-crafted half-century, but he too was dismissed when Rahmanullah Gurbaz took a remarkable catch off Shamar Joseph’s delivery.
Despite the loss of their top-order batsmen, the Kings’ total was still formidable, and the Warriors’ bowlers managed to restrict the score somewhat. Moeen Ali stood out for the Warriors, taking 2/24 in his four overs, showing his experience and composure with the ball.
In reply, the Warriors reached 106/4 after 13 overs before rain halted play. The drizzle eventually turned into heavier rain, and the match was abandoned after more than an hour, with the Warriors unable to reach the required run rate according to the DLS (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) method.
At the point of interruption, the Warriors needed 92 runs from 42 balls, with Shimron Hetmyer looking dangerous at 37 off 18 balls. Hetmyer had just started attacking, hitting four consecutive sixes off Noor Ahmad and Roston Chase. However, despite this aggressive outburst, the Warriors remained well behind the DLS target of 121 when the rain finally ended the contest.
The Warriors will now have another shot at the final in their upcoming match against Barbados Royals. The winner of that clash will face the Saint Lucia Kings on Sunday, as both teams aim for the prestigious CPL title.
