The Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their ruthless march through the season, cruising to their eighth win with a six-wicket victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders in Guyana on Friday. The result not only extended the Warriors' dominance at the top of the standings but also formally eliminated the Knight Riders, condemning the defending champions to a last-place finish just a year after their title-winning campaign.

Spinners strangle the Knight Riders' innings

The game followed a familiar template for the Warriors, whose spin attack once again choked the opposition into submission. Asked to bat first, the Knight Riders made a brisk start as Colin Munro launched a six in the opening over before Alex Hales joined the party, with three fours following in the next over. At 41 for 1 after five overs, the visitors looked well placed.

That is when Mehidy Hasan Miraz changed the contest in the space of two deliveries, bowling both Colin Munro and Nicholas Pooran off successive balls. From there, the spinners assumed complete control. Only one boundary was scored between overs five and 13, with the Knight Riders managing just 36 runs while losing two more wickets under mounting pressure.

Miraz's masterclass

Alex Hales holed out in the 10th over, and Miraz was back in the wickets column in the 13th, bowling Jyd Goolie for his third scalp. The fourth followed soon after when Sunil Narine was also bowled in the 15th over. Justin Greaves, who fought hard for a 37-ball 35, had his stumps splattered by Shamar Joseph in the 17th over, while Kieron Pollard — held back at No. 7 — was unable to make a meaningful impact either.

The Knight Riders stumbled to 126 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Miraz finishing with outstanding figures of 4 for 23 and Joseph chipping in with 2 for 27.

A chase without anxiety

With the required run rate posing no real threat, the Warriors had the luxury of chasing on their own terms. They managed only 35 runs in the Powerplay while losing Mavendra Dindyal, and Glenn Phillips fell to Usman Tariq shortly after the fielding restrictions eased.

But a solid 49-run partnership between Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer steadied the ship and erased any lingering doubts. Sunil Narine briefly interrupted the stand by dismissing Hetmyer in the 13th over, yet Hope remained composed throughout, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 35 balls and sealing the win with a four and a six in the 19th over.

Brief scores

Trinbago Knight Riders 126/8 in 20 overs (Justin Greaves 35; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-23, Shamar Joseph 2-27) lost to Guyana Amazon Warriors 127/4 in 18.4 overs (Shai Hope 42*, Shimron Hetmyer 28; Sunil Narine 1-13) by 6 wickets.