Kieron Pollard's 18-ball 54 goes in vain as ex-CSK all-rounder's 3 sixes in death overs hand Trinbago Knight Riders a 3-wicket defeat

South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius turned saviour for Guyana Amazon Warriors in death overs as he hit three sixes in his unbeaten cameo to hand Trinbago Knight Riders a three-wicket defeat with one ball to spare. Kieron Pollard was exceptional with the bat, hitting five sixes in his unbeaten 18-ball 54 but he could not defend nine runs in the last over.

Bravo, Carty crawl but Pollard flies

Home team captain Imran Tahir won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pretorius struck early as he got the wicket of Colin Munro in the third over. Two balls later, Alex Hales got knocked over by Romario Shepherd. Skipper Nicholas Pooran could ot do the damage and got bowled by Moeen Ali. 

Meanwhile, Darren Bravo and Keacy Carty struggled to score freely. Bravo lost his wicket to Tahir in the 16th over whereas Carty was retired out for a 34-ball 29 before the 19th over. By the time Carty returned to dugout, Pollard had already hit two sixes and as many fours. In the penultimate over, Tahir struggled with his line and conceded 19 runs including a 103-metre six from Pollard. In the final over, Pollard finished the innings with two sixes and two fours. He reached his fifty from just 17 balls and took Trinbago Knight Riders to 167/5.

Hope, Hetmyer slow down after good start

In the run chase, Moeen lost his wicket to Akeal Hosein after hitting just one boundary. Hosein got Keemo Paul's wicket in the third over. Andre Russell took a beating as Shai Hope hit him for two sixes and a four. Then Shimron Hetmyer took charge, smashing Usman Tariq for three sixes. Guyana Amazon Warriors were 66/2 after powerplay overs. Hope slowed down after fielding restrictions were lifted. After three boundary-less overs, Hetmyer looked to attack. 

Chaotic second half but Pretorius sees it through

In the 12th over, Hetmyer was dismissed by Sunil Narine. He scored 49 runs from 30 balls, including two fours and four sixes. Hassan Khan could not make an impact as he was knocked over by Tariq. In the 15th over, Hope reached his fifty from 41 balls. In his last over, Narine trapped Hope in front of the stumps. He scored 53 runs from 46 balls. Romario Shepherd hit a six off Russell and departed in the 18th over. But Pretorius made the most of it with two consecutive sixes. In the penultimate over, Nathan Edwards conceded 10 runs but got the wicket of Quentin Sampson. Pollard was handed the ball to defend nine runs but Pretorius ensured Warriors get over the line. He remained unbeaten for 26 runs from 14 balls.