Simmons, Guptill blast Warriors into CPL final
Friday, August 15 2014
Newsday
OPENING batsmen Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill blasted the Guyana Amazon Warriors into the Limacol Caribbean Premier League final, with a resounding 10- wicket victory over last year’s champions the Jamaica Tallawahs at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts yesterday.
After restricting the Tallawahs to 134 for six wickets in their 20 overs, Simmons rattled up an unbeaten 71 off just 43 balls including seven fours and three sixes.
And partner Guptill was not far behind lashing an unbeaten 66 off 46 balls with six fours and two sixes in their 138-run opening stand.
Simmons was particularly savage on fast bowler Jerome Taylor, taking 20 runs off his bowling off nine balls.
And Guptill took a liking to Rusty Theron, belting him for 18 runs from 11 balls.
He too smashed Taylor around, taking 16 runs off nine balls.
When the Tallawahs batted, they lost wickets regularly after Chris Gayle was first man out for just 19.
Chadwick Walton tried desperately to rescue his team with a top score of 34.
But the Warriors’ bowling spearheaded by spinner Sunil Narine who took one wicket for 17 runs off his four overs, never loosened their stranglehold.
The Warriors now meet the Barbados Tridents in the final at the same venue tomorrow.