Charles hammered two boundaries and four sixes during his knock of 47

Image courtesy of: CPL T20

St Lucia Zouks opener Johnson Charles smashed 47 runs to lead his side to a nail-biting two-run win via the Duckworth-Lewis method over the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Amazon Warriors captain Denesh Ramdin would have been mulling over his decision to bat first as Charles and Andre Fletcher amassed a 77-run partnership before Fletcher was given out lbw off the bowling of Ronsford Beaton for 36.

Fletcher’s dismissal led to a domino effect occurring as the Amazon Warriors ripped through the Zouks’ top and middle order. Charles ended up making 47, which came off 26 balls and included two boundaries and four sixes.

With the Zouks sinking fast, New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor and captain Darren Sammy made a quickfire 30 not out and 18 respectively to help the Zouks finish on 156/6 off their 20 overs.

Beaton, Veerasammy Permaul and Sunil Narine took two wickets apiece.

Chasing 157 to win, the Amazon Warriors got off to a solid start before Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan was struck above the eye by a bouncer from pace bowler Kemar Roach and had to retire hurt on 19. He did return later on, but ended up being clean bowled by Fidel Edwards for 29.

The Zouks continued to take wickets at regular intervals and were on track for a fairly comfortable victory before veteran Australia batsman Brad Hodge launched a highly entertaining counter-attack.

However, Hodge’s unbeaten knock of 45, which came off 30 balls and included four boundaries and two sixes, was not enough as the Amazon Warriors ended up falling three agonising runs short of their target.

Edwards and Eddie Leie snapped up two wickets each, while Roach claimed one.

Charles was named Man of the Match.