GAW overcome San Francisco Unicorns in rain-affected chase

Guyana Amazon Warriors secured a three-wicket victory over the San Francisco Unicorns under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in the second match of the ExxonMobil Global Super League T20 at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence. 

 Chasing a revised target of 131 from 16 overs following an extended rain interruption, the defending champions completed the chase with three deliveries to spare.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Unicorns posted 156 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. 

The innings encountered an early setback when seamer Dwaine Pretorius bowled Connor Esterhuizen and subsequently dismantled Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s stumps, reducing the visitors to 13 for 2 inside the powerplay.

Opener Tim Robinson provided immediate momentum, striking a rapid 21-ball 38 that included three sixes and four boundaries. 

The Unicorns’ total was ultimately anchored by veteran Hammad Azam, who top-scored with a 54-ball 61 featuring four sixes and two fours. 

Azam and Oliver Peake (30) constructed a 45-run partnership for the fourth wicket to stabilise the innings. 

The Warriors regained control in the backend of the innings, with off-spinner Mohammad Nabi trapping Peake lbw to break the stand.

Pretorius and Nabi were the most successful bowlers for the hosts, finishing with respective figures of 2 for 36 and 2 for 33 from their four-over quotas.

The Warriors’ chase began poorly with the early loss of Quinton Sampson for 4. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (31) and Mohammad Haris (30) subsequently rebuilt the innings with a steady 63-run partnership for the second wicket.  

The hosts were positioned at 66 for 2 in the eighth over when an 80-minute rain delay forced a recalculation of the target.

Upon resumption, the Warriors experienced a middle-order collapse, slipping to 93 for 5 as Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, and Pretorius fell in quick succession.

Pacer Ghulam Mudassar, who provided the initial breakthrough, finished with 2 for 27, while Hassan Khan completed an economical spell of 2 for 25.

Rovman Powell assumed responsibility for the final phase of the chase, remaining unbeaten on 28. 

Requiring six runs from the final over bowled by left-arm spinner Callum Stow, Matthew Forde edged the first delivery to the third-man boundary and rotated the strike. 

Powell then secured the victory with a single to short mid-wicket on the third ball of the over.

The Global Super League continues on July 24 with the Lahore Qalandars facing the Desert Vipers from 10:00am.