Saint Lucia Kings storm into CPL final

PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC):

The St Lucia Kings secured their spot in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Final with a 15-run (DLS) win over defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors, in a rain-shortened match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Wednesday night.

The Warriors now face the Barbados Royals in today’s qualifier two, with the winners earning a shot at the Kings in Sunday’s grand finale.

Batting first after winning the toss, the St Lucia Kings made the most of the conditions as captain Faf du Plessis led from the front again.

A commanding 124-run opening partnership between Du Plessis and Johnson Charles laid the foundation for a competitive total of 198-5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Charles was eyeing a century before his aggressive innings ended on 79 from 45 balls, courtesy of a well-judged catch at long on by Keemo Paul off Moeen Ali’s bowling.

Du Plessis followed soon after, compiling a solid half-century before Rahmanullah Gurbaz took a spectacular catch from a powerful straight drive, sending the Kings skipper back for 52.

In their chase, the Warriors were 106-4 after 13 overs when a persistent drizzle turned to heavy rain, forcing the umpires to take the players off the field.

With the downpour refusing to ease, the match was called off more than an hour later and Guyana found themselves 15 runs behind the required DLS target.

At the stoppage, the Warriors needed 92 from 42 balls. Shimron Hetmyer looked dangerous, blasting 37 from 18 balls, including four towering sixes off Noor Ahmad and Roston Chase.

Moeen Ali had just joined Hetmyer at the crease, leaving the Warriors with a slim chance of victory, but they were always trailing the DLS score, which stood at 121 when the rain took over.