The Providence Stadium, Guyana witnessed a run chase to remember. In the fourth match of Global Super League, Guyana Amazon Warriors' Romario Shepherd batted at no.9 and scored a 21-ball 52, helping his side beat Desert Vipers by two wickets. Warriors were 95/7 in the 11th over. Then, Mohammad Nabi and Shepherd's 91-run partnership for the eighth wicket stunned Vipers, winning the game with three balls to spare.
Mayers hit for 5 sixes
Warriors' run chase started cautiously with just two runs from first two overs. Then, Kyle Mayers was hit for five sixes in an over, three from Quentin Sampson and a couple from Rahmanullah Gurbaz. In the fifth over, the partnership was broken by Nathan Smith. Gurbaz departed for 15-ball 31. From 55 for no loss in 4.2 overs, Warriors lost seven wickets for 95 runs.
Massive batting collapse
Seven wickets fell within a space of 40 runs. Khary Pierre knocked over Sampson and Shimron Hetmyer in the sixth over. Skipper Shadab Khan dismissed Rovman Powell. Young left-arm wrist spinner got Mohammad Haris out lbw whereas Shadab struck twice in his 11th over to sent Gudakesh Motie and Jonathan van Lange packing.
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Shepherd turns the tide
But, Shepherd did not take much time to launch a counter-attack. On the second ball he faced, he hit Shadab for a six over long-on. In the next over, he hit Lawes for a couple of sixes. Pierre wasn't spared either and Nabi attacked as well. In the 16th over, Shadab returned. He was hit for a six and two fours. Shadab conceded 21 runs in his last over. In the 17th over, Shepherd completed his fifty with a six. He raced to his fifty from just 17 balls. While Lawes dismissed Shepherd for a 21-ball 52, it turned out to be a consolation wicket.
Dwaine Pretorius hit a few boundaries to get Warriors over the line with three balls to spare. He scored 17 runs from nine balls. On the other end, Nabi remained unbeaten for a 29-ball 40. This was Imran Tahir-led Warriors' second win of the tournament.
Shepherd became the fourth no.9 batter to score a half-century in a run chase in winning cause.
Rossouw’s fifty, cameos take Vipers past 200
Earlier, Tahir had won the toss and opted to bowl. Shepherd and Nabi got rid of Vipers openers Andries Gous and Zackary Carter respectively. Shadab was run out by Sampson. Rilee Rossouw top-scored with a 48-ball 61. Mayers (18-ball 35), Bevon Jacobs (17-ball 30), Vriitya Aravind (11-ball 28) and Smith's (2-ball 10) cameos took Vipers to 205/6. This is Vipers' second consecutive loss. They are at the bttom of the points table.