ST LUCIA ZOUKS survived a nail-bitter to record their second victory at home in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 cricket competition last night at Beausejour Stadium.
Put in to bat, the Zouks scored 156 for six against Guyana Amazon Warriors in a match reduced to 18 overs after rain delayed play. In a tense run chase, the Warriors scored 154 for five off their 18, losing by two runs.
Man of the Match Johnson Charles (47) and Andre Fletcher (36) against laid a good foundation for the Zouks, and Ross Taylor added 30.
Guyana were sailing along at 34 without loss in the fourth over when they faced the first setback. A bouncer from Kemar Roach cut Tillakaratne Dilshan above the right eyebrow. He received treatment off the field, but Lendl Simmons, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin fell in the next five overs.
Brad Hodge was not out on 44 and he did a bit of consolidation with Christopher Barnwell (26). Dilshan returned and was bowled by Edwards for 29.
The Warriors needed 14 runs off the last over and six off the last ball.
Fidel Edwards bowled a wide off what should have been the last delivery of the match, giving them a sniff of a chance.
But tailender Sunil Narine could only manage two, and Zouks fans breathed a sigh of relief, while Warriors fans lamented a second defeat. (SAT)
Summarised scores:
St Lucia Zouks 156-6 in 18 overs (Johnson Charles 47, Andre Fletcher 36, Ross Taylor 30, Darren Sammy 18; Veerasammy Permaul 2-24, Sunil Narine 2-32, Ronsford Beaton 2-40). Guyana Amazon Warriors 154-5 in 18 overs (Brad Hodge 44 n.o., Tillakaratne Dilshan 29, Christopher Barnwell 26, Denesh Ramdin 21, Lendl Simmons 14; Eddie Leie 2-25, Fidel Edwards 2-35). Zouks won by two wickets.