An in-form Shimron Hetmyer turned the tide for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Global Super League (GSL) 2025 encounter against Hobart Hurricanes on July 16. Hetmyer smashed his countryman Fabian Allen for five sixes in an over in a low-scoring game at Providence Stadium, Guyana. His 10-ball 39 proved to be a gamechanger and helped Guyana Amazon Warriors book the final date against Rangpur Riders on July 18.
Hetmyer walked in to bat when Warriors were 42/3 in the ninth over in the run chase of 126. Warriors needed 84 more runs from 63 balls when he took guard. After a dot delivery, he took a single against Usama Mir.
In the next over, Hetmyer took his chances. Allen pitched it up and Hetmyer hit it over long-on for a huge six. Allen came round the wicket. Hetmyer could not get the elevation and was dropped by Odean Smith at long-on. The ball bounced off his hand and went over the ropes. On the third ball, Allen bowled a little wider but Hetmyer reached for it to hit the sight screen.
Allen continued to bowl in the arc and Hetmyer swept it over deep mid-wicket for another maximum. On the fifth delivery, Hetmyer could not hit a six but got a couple of runs. Allen bowled a shorter one to finish the over. Hetmyer waited, used the depth of the crease and hit it over deep mid-wicket for a huge six. 32 runs were scored off the 10th over. Warriors at 75/3 at the halfway stage.
In the next over, the Hetmyer hit Mir for a maximum as well. On the next ball, he got caught by Jackson Bird. But the Caribbean southpaw had taken the pressure off his team in the run chase. Moeen Ali anchored the run chase and ensured Warriors got over the line with four wickets in hand and 21 balls to spare.
Hurricanes stuck in spin web
Earlier, Warriors had bowled out Hurricanes for 125 in 16.1 overs. Gudakesh Motie struck thrice whereas Moeen and Imran Tahir got two wickets a piece. Allen was the highest run-scorer for them with a 20-ball 28. Motie was named 'Player of the match'.
Hetmyer regains form
Before the 39-run knock, Hetmyer's scores in GSL 2025 were 13, 12 and 14. Earlier, he was responsible for Seattle Orcas' three wins in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 with unbeaten knocks of 97, 62 and 78 in run chases.
Hetmyer's record against Australia
It will be interesting to see how Hetmyer tackles the Australian challenge at home. The five-T20I series starts at The Sabina Park on July 20. This is the same venue where West Indies were bowled out for their lowest Test score of 27 in pink-ball Test a few days ago.
So far, Hetmyer has played four T20Is against Australia. He scored 108 runs form three innings at an average of 36 and strike rate of 121.34. His only half-century against Australia came in 2021 in a winning cause.