The Barbados Royals sealed a place in Friday’s 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final with a comprehensive 87-run win over Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium, Guyana, on Tuesday.
Royals opener Rahkeem Cornwall starred in the innings, launching 11 sixes in his innings of 91, while Azam Khan supported with 52 as the franchise went on to score the joint-highest total of this season, an imposing 195 for five, after being sent in to bat.
The Warriors’ hopes of a successful chase were derailed in the powerplay as they lost four wickets, Kyle Mayers and Ramon Simmonds, who finished with three for 17, proving effective with the ball. Despite the attempts of Shimron Hetmyer (37), it was not to be enough as the Warriors fell to 108 all out.
Royals initially got off to a cautious start, but Cornwall would go on to play one of the most destructive innings seen this season, 91 runs from just 54 balls, to put the Royals into the ascendancy. After losing his wicket just nine runs short of a century to the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, the responsibility of the innings fell on Khan, whose vital half-century helped his side to 195 for five by the end of the innings.
Amazon Warriors lost early wickets in their chase. In-form batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz departing in the first over, before a flurry of wickets fell that left them on 36-4 by the end of the powerplay.
Simmonds excelled with his bowling, taking three key wickets, including that of captain Hetmyer, who was the Warriors highest scorer in the innings. In the end, the Warriors finished on 108 all out and will play in tomorrow night’s qualifier.
Summarised scores: Barbados Royals 195-5 (Rahkeem Cornwall 91, Azam Khan 52; Shepherd 2-29). Guyana Amazon Warriors 108 (Shimron Hetmyer 37, Shai Hope 21; Ramon Simmonds 3-17, Rahkeem Cornwall 2-10) by 87 runs. Royals won by 87 runs. (PR/SAT)
