Ramdin struck six boundaries during his match-winning knock of 51
Image courtesy of: cplt20.com
West Indies Test captain Denesh Ramdin smashed an entertaining half-century and spinner Sunil Narine only gave away three runs off his four overs to lead the Guyana Amazon Warriors to a two-wicket win over the Antigua Hawksbills.
Ramdin would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first early on after Antigua opening batsman Ben Dunk was caught by Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez off the bowling of Ronsford Beaton for 38.
Shacaya Thomas and Danza Hyatt made up for the early loss of Dunk as they amassed a 60-run partnership before Thomas was caught by Hafeez at short fine leg off the bowling of Veerasammy Permaul for 20.
Hyatt went on to score 36 runs before he was run out by Krishmar Santokie.
Following Hyatt’s dismissal, Antigua’s middle and lower order completely collapsed as they went from 103/3 to finishing on 136/8 off their 20 overs.
New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Beaton and Permaul chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Narine also deserves a lot of credit for his bowling, even though he did not pick up a wicket, as he only gave away three runs off his four overs to end up with an incredible economy rate of 0.75.
Chasing 137 to win, Guyana got off to a horrible start as opening batsman Lendl Simmons was clean bowled by Sheldon Cottrell off the third ball of the innings for a duck.
New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill only made four runs before he was caught by Kraigg Brathwaite off the bowling of Miguel Cummins.
Hafeez and Ramdin stabilised the innings with a 59-run partnership before Hafeez was caught behind off the bowling of Marlon Samuels for 35.
Neesham mustered 11 runs before he was caught by Brathwaite at long-on off the bowling of Cottrell.
Christopher Barnwell scored five runs before he was caught by Hyatt at point off the bowling of Ben Laughlin.
Laughlin struck again just four balls later when Navin Stewart was also caught by Hyatt at point.
Ramdin ended up making 51 off 36 balls, which included six boundaries and a six, before he was cleaned up by Brathwaite.
Permaul made a quickfire 15 before he was caught by Hyatt at fine leg off the bowling of Cottrell.
Despite the late flurry of wickets, Guyana managed to cross the finish line with three balls to spare.
Cottrell was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Laughlin snapped up two and Cummins, Brathwaite and Samuels claimed one wicket each.