CPL 2024 Match 2 Review : Guyana Amazon Warriors defeat Falcons

The second match of the 12th edition of the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL 2024) was as thrilling as its opening match. For two consecutive nights in a row, the audience got to see a last-ball thriller match. Guyana Amazon Warriors edged out Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in a last-ball win. Dwaine Pretorius is the one to give the credit for the win. His batting cameo resulted in a success. Throughout the game, the match was neck-to-neck, however, Dwaine Pretorius's batting changed the scenario and pulled a win in Guyana Amazon Warrior's favour. 

The Falcons were on the losing side for the second straight night when the game was decided on the very last play of the contest. After batting poorly in the face of Gudakesh Motie's potent bowling, the Falcons rallied to produce a respectable total of 168/6. They appeared to be winning the game when the target was 47 runs from 18 balls, but Pretorius and the Warriors' unselfish batting carried them to a three-wicket victory. The Warriors also had trouble staying consistent with their batting throughout their innings. 

After winning the toss, the Amazon Warriors elected to bowl first, and they made a big early breakthrough when Shai Hope's excellent fielding got Teddy Bishop out for a mere 10/1 at the end of the second over. There was a need for a rebuild after a rather sluggish opening two overs and the departure of one of their openers, and they got one because of a 73-run partnership between Kofi James and Fakhar Zaman, which raised the rate to about 10 an over. 

CPL 2024 second match review:

The Falcons lost four wickets for a mere 29 runs after James was removed from the game. This was the beginning of their downfall. Using a deft delivery that beat the England batsman as he moved up the pitch, Motie was the main wrecker, dismissing Sam Billings. When the 17-year-old batsman Jewel Andrew attempted to hit back-to-back sixes, he got caught at deep mid-wicket by Shimron Hetmyer. 

The Falcons made a middle-order blunder and were immediately back in the game thanks to a superb counterattacking knock by Imad Wasim. The all-rounder from Pakistan, who hit 40 off of 21 balls, gave the Falcons a total they could try to defend. Motie was bowled for six from four balls after the Amazon Warriors decided to move him up the order to open. He had hit a six in the opening over. Gurbaz also entered the PowerPlay when Shamar Springer's acrobatic catch at midwicket ended his innings. 

Once the fielding limits were lifted and the rate started to rise, the Falcons spinners performed admirably in containing the Warriors. Imad bowled Shimron Hetmyer, who was trying to steady things and establish a platform for the Warriors. The Warriors were down to 77/4 when Azam Khan struck his stumps with his bat following a nasty bouncer from Springer.  

With the needed rate at more than 15 an over, Shai Hope was still in the middle and the previous year's Player of the Tournament looking dangerous in the last overs. However, he was bowled for 41 and it seemed that the Warriors were out of the game. That was prior to Pretorius scoring eighteen runs off of the last six balls as the Warriors launched their title defence in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.

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