by Vidia Ramphal
The Guyana Amazon Warriors powered into the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final with a statement 14-run win over the St Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 on Wednesday night.
Defending a modest 157, the Warriors’ spinners dominated, reducing the Kings to 48 for 7 before bowling them out for 143.
Gudakesh Motie was the standout with 4 for 30, while Imran Tahir grabbed 2 for 22 and now has 19 wickets this season.
Earlier, Shai Hope anchored the Warriors’ innings with 32 off 29, before a late surge from Dwaine Pretorius and Romario Shepherd pushed the total past 150.
For the Kings, Tabraiz Shamsi claimed three wickets, while debutant Tymal Mills impressed with 2 for 28.
Khary Pierre struck his maiden CPL half-century, and Alzarri Joseph’s 30 provided resistance, but the Warriors had the measure of the Kings on the night.
TALKING POINTS
Warriors Reach Eighth CPL Final
The Guyana Amazon Warriors sealed their place in the 2025 CPL final with a 14-run win over the St Lucia Kings. This marks their eighth final in 13 editions of the tournament. They have now made it to the last three finals—all staged in Guyana.
Hope Anchors Innings
Shai Hope scored 32 from 29 balls to steady the Warriors’ innings before late hitting from Pretorius and Shepherd lifted them to 157 all out. Hope has now gone clear as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 479 runs at an average of 53.22 in 11 innings, including four half-centuries.
Kings Bowlers Shine
Tabraiz Shamsi (3 wickets) and debutant Tymal Mills (2/28) impressed in restricting the Warriors. Shamsi remains the spearhead of the Kings’ bowling unit with 17 wickets in 11 games, while Mills marked his debut with two eye-catching strikes.
Warriors’ Spin Stranglehold
Gudakesh Motie (4/30) and Imran Tahir (2/22) tore through the Kings’ batting, reducing them to 48 for 7. The Warriors’ spin duo sits atop the wicket charts this season, with Tahir on 20 and Motie on 18. In spin-friendly Guyana conditions, they remain the home team’s most potent weapons.
Pierre’s Maiden CPL Fifty
Khary Pierre fought back with a valiant 50, supported by Joseph (14) and Mills (30), but the chase was too steep. Pierre rarely gets the chance to showcase his batting, but when he does, he proves his value. In the 2020 CPL with TKR, he famously sealed victory with consecutive boundaries after a Pollard masterclass.
Warriors in Hot Form
This was their third consecutive win, putting them directly into Sunday’s final. Earlier in the tournament, form was patchy, but roared on by their home crowd, the Warriors are peaking at the perfect time.
Kings’ Second Chance
Despite the loss, the Kings will face the Trinbago Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 for another shot at the final. They head into the clash on a three-match losing streak, although their last win came against TKR on September 3.
QUALIFIER 2 PREVIEW
The Kings topped the CPL table despite back-to-back defeats in the preliminary round. Three straight losses will be a concern, but with Shamsi’s wicket-taking threat and Mills’ new-ball pace, they remain dangerous.
The Knight Riders ended their three-match skid with a nine-wicket demolition of the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in the Eliminator. With batting firepower led by Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard, plus the wizardry of Sunil Narine, they are a formidable opponent.
VERDICT
Kings vs Knight Riders: two heavyweights colliding. The Knight Riders appear to be on the rise again and may start as slight favorites in Qualifier 2.
It’s simple: the winner advances to Sunday’s grand final against Guyana; the loser’s CPL journey ends. High stakes, big names, and a packed Guyana National Stadium promise a thriller.
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