Pretorius, Joseph script comfortable Amazon Warriors win

A six-day gap between fixtures did not stall Guyana Amazon Warriors’ momentum, as they completed a comfortable seven-wicket win over Saint Lucia Kings in their second CPL 2026 fixture at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium. The Amazon Warriors turned in another clinical bowling display to limit the Kings to 151, before a 79-run opening stand between Glenn Phillips and Mavendra Dindyal set up the chase.

While the spinners scripted the Amazon Warriors’ first win, it was the fast bowlers’ turn to take centerstage this time around. Dwaine Pretorius was the star with a three-fer, putting behind an expensive 13-run over early to strike twice in the Powerplay. He first cut Kamil Pooran’s breezy start to 19 before dismissing Andries Gous in the final over of the Powerplay, shortly after a brief rain interval. The bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets before Charith Asalanka and Darron Nedd revived the innings with a 45-run partnership. Asalanka was the aggressor between the two, while another spell of rain followed immediately after Nedd’s dismissal for a 23-ball 17.

While no overs were lost, Matthew Forde struck consecutive sixes off Romario Shepherd. But Shamar Joseph produced a masterclass at the death, removing Forde after a two-run 18th over. Pretorius returned to bag his third, dismissing the well-set Asalanka, as the last three overs went for just 17 runs with the pacers combining to limit the Kings.

Phillips then got the Amazon Warriors rolling in the chase, smashing 16 runs off Amari Goodridge in the third over. Forde, who went for just six off his first two overs, lost his line alarmingly in the final over of the Powerplay, which the Amazon Warriors ended with 48 on the board. After another passing shower, Dindyal attempted to break free and also had some luck going his way as Goodridge shelled a catching opportunity. Phillips departed off the very next ball, but Dindyal ramped up the gears, even as he took 50 deliveries for his maiden CPL half-century before being stumped.

A two-run 16th over from Roston Chase brought the equation down to 37 off 24, while Shai Hope’s dismissal kept the game in the balance. Quentin Sampson instantly wrestled it in favour of the Amazon Warriors though with a couple of sixes off Maheesh Theekshana, before Shimron Hetmyer tore into Shadley van Schalkwyk for four successive boundaries with a wide in between. Hetmyer then finished the job with a six off Theekshana as the Amazon Warriors surged to the top of the table.

Brief Scores: Saint Lucia Kings 151/7 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 35, Andries Gous 20; Dwaine Pretorius 3-29, Shamar Joseph 2-25) lost to Guyana Amazon Warriors 157/3 in 18.1 overs (Mavendra Dindyal 50, Glenn Phillips 36, Shimron Hetmyer 25*; Maheesh Theekshana 2-33) by 7 wickets.