Clinical Amazon Warriors maul Falcons to stay unbeaten

Guyana Amazon Warriors continued their excellent run of form in CPL 2026, comprehensively brushing aside Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by seven wickets to consign them to their first home defeat of the season. Much like the theme across their first two wins, the Amazon Warriors turned in a professional bowling display after winning the toss before chasing down a meagre target of 117 in the 10th over.

Khary Pierre struck twice in the Powerplay to remove Rahkeem Cornwall and Karima Gore, although the Falcons still managed to get to a decent score of 49 by the end of that phase. A 40-run stand for the third wicket between Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz steadied the ship for the Falcons. The latter fell to a stunning Glenn Phillips catch in the deep, which slowed the innings down as the spinners ran through their overs without giving away much. Phillips made an impact with the ball too, removing Jangoo before Shamar Joseph snapped Joshua James' electrifying start to a 3-ball 10.

The bowlers then kept chipping away at the wickets as the Falcons never recovered. Kusal Perera hurt his right leg while putting in a dive and while he was fit to continue batting, he was run out after a miscommunication with Shadab Khan. Such was the alarming nature of the hosts' collapse that they lost their last five wickets for eight runs in the space of 15 deliveries. Shamar Joseph cleaned up the tail again, while an in-form Shadab was left stranded as the unbeaten batter with the Falcons being rolled over for 116.

The Amazon Warriors lost openers Phillips and Matthew Nandu early but there was only one way they were going to approach this chase. Shai Hope took Alzarri Joseph down in an 18-run fifth over before pouncing on Jayden Seales in the sixth as he raced away in the Powerplay. Shimron Hetmyer then negated the off-spin threat of the Falcons, striking two sixes off both Cornwall and Moeen Ali as the visitors raced to 97 by the end of the ninth over.

Hetmyer then tore into Shamar Springer, smashing two more sixes and a four before he walked off disgruntled, having fallen for 49. The winning shot was a six for the third time in as many games for Guyana – this time, it was Quentin Sampson who did the honours, even as Hope remained unbeaten on 47. As one of two unbeaten teams in the competition, the Amazon Warriors gave their already solid net run-rate an even bigger boost.

Brief Scores: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 116 all out in 17 overs (Amir Jangoo 37; Shamar Joseph 3-22, Imran Tahir 2-15, Khary Pierre 2-19) lost to Guyana Amazon Warriors 121/3 in 9.5 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 49, Shai Hope 47*; Jayden Seales 1-21) by 7 wickets