David Warner’s Innings Helps Trailblazers Edge Past Vikings in MAX60 Thriller
David Warner's explosive 75* off 30 balls powered Boca Raton Trailblazers to 117 for 3 in 10 overs. Despite Shadrack Descarte’s 31* for Vegas Vikings, they fell short, finishing at 112 for 6. Carlos Brathwaite and Ben Manenti took two wickets each as Trailblazers clinched a thrilling 5-run win in George Town.
On July 21, 2025, at Jimmy Powell Oval in George Town, Cayman Islands, the Boca Raton Trailblazers took on the Vegas Vikings in the 20th Match of the MAX60 Caribbean tournament. The Trailblazers won the toss and decided to bat first, putting up a solid 117 for 3 in their 10 overs.
David Warner Steals the Show
The Trailblazers’ innings started with a bang, thanks to openers David Warner and Kevin Wickham. Warner, the Australian batting legend, was in a different class altogether, smashing an unbeaten 75 runs off just 30 balls. His knock was a masterclass, eight crisp fours and four massive sixes, racing along at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 250.00. From the first ball, he was on fire, picking gaps with ease, hammering loose deliveries into the stands, and even making good balls look ordinary. His mix of classic cover drives and brutal lofted shots had the crowd roaring and the Vikings’ bowlers scrambling.
Wickham, the wicketkeeper-batter, played the perfect supporting role, chipping in with a steady 29 runs off 20 balls, including two fours and a six, at a strike rate of 145.00. Together, they put on a cracking 79-run stand for the first wicket, absolutely dominating the first six overs and putting the Vikings’ bowling attack under all sorts of pressure. The Vikings’ bowlers had a tough day trying to deal with Warner’s onslaught. Suboth Bhati opened the bowling, giving away 15 runs in his two overs at an economy rate of 7.50, but he couldn’t find a way to break through. Ankit Rajpoot had an even rougher time, getting taken apart for 27 runs in his two overs at a costly 13.50 runs per over.
Warner and Wickham were relentless, pouncing on anything slightly off line. Conroy Wright bowled a single over that went for 13 runs, while Shahbaz Nadeem struggled too, conceding 21 runs in his two overs at 10.50 per over. Ali Murtaza had a nightmare, with his one over going for 18 runs as Warner tore into him with no mercy. The Vikings’ bowling unit was all over the place, and only one man managed to stand tall amidst the chaos. That man was Shadrack Descarte, who gave the Vikings a glimmer of hope in the 6.1st over by dismissing Wickham for 29.
Wickham tried to up the tempo but got caught out by Sam Heazlett, breaking that dangerous opening partnership. Descarte was the standout bowler, finishing with a brilliant 3 for 22 in his two overs, at an economy rate of 11.00. He was back at it in the 6.6th over, getting rid of George Munsey, the Trailblazers’ captain, for 7 runs off 4 balls. Munsey had just smashed a quick six, trying to keep the momentum going, but he was caught by Nikhil Chaudhary. Descarte’s clever mix of pace and length made him the only bowler who looked like troubling the Trailblazers, and his three wickets were a lifeline for the Vikings.
Nick Hobson came in at number four but couldn’t find his groove, managing just 5 runs off 5 balls before Descarte struck again in the 9.2nd over, with Chaudhary taking another catch. Josh Kann was not out on 0 off 1 ball, barely getting a chance to make an impact as the Trailblazers’ scoring slowed down in the final overs. Warner, though, was an absolute rock, batting through the innings without giving the Vikings a sniff.
The Trailblazers wrapped up at 117 for 3, with just one extra, adding to their total. Warner’s brilliance, backed by Wickham’s solid start, gave them a fighting total, but the late wickets meant they didn’t quite run away with it. With a strong bowling lineup including Carlos Brathwaite, Lachlan Bangs, and Ben Manenti, the Trailblazers were ready to defend their score and make the Vikings work for every run.
The Trailblazers’ innings was all about Warner’s dominance, with his ability to keep the scoreboard ticking and punish the bowlers, setting the tone. Wickham’s contribution gave them a strong foundation, but the middle order couldn’t quite build on it. Descarte’s three wickets were a bright spot for the Vikings, keeping the target within reach. The stage was set for a thrilling chase, with 118 runs needed in 10 overs.
Shadrack Descarte Shows the Fight for Vikings
The Vegas Vikings’ chase of 118 was a rollercoaster that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last ball. They fought hard, led by Shadrack Descarte and Sam Heazlett, but ended up at 112 for 6, falling agonizingly short by just 5 runs. It was a chase full of early stumbles, a gutsy fightback, and a collapse that left them just shy of the target in a finish that had everyone holding their breath. The Vikings got off to a disastrous start. Unmukt Chand was gone in the 0.4th over, caught by Nick Hobson off Lachlan Bangs for just 1 run off 2 balls. Bangs came out swinging, finishing with 1 for 22 in his two overs at an economy of 11.00.
Vintage David Warner carnage in MAX60. pic.twitter.com/muOo73g0dg
— Riken (@FearlessSanju) July 21, 2025
Things got worse when Carlos Brathwaite, the Trailblazers’ big all-rounder, struck in the 1.5th over, bowling Kennar Lewis for 8 runs off 6 balls, which included a four. Lewis was done in by a cracking delivery, leaving the Vikings in a hole at 15 for 2 after just 1.5 overs. The Trailblazers were all over them, and it looked like the chase might be over before it even started. Sam Heazlett and Nikhil Chaudhary had other ideas, though, putting together a brilliant 52-run partnership for the third wicket to drag the Vikings back into the game. Heazlett was in fine form, scoring 28 off 15 balls with three fours and a six, at a strike rate of 186.66.
He played with composure, picking his shots carefully but not shying away from the big ones. Chaudhary was even more aggressive, blasting 29 off 13 balls with three fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 223.07. Their stand took the Vikings to 67 for 3 by the 5.3rd over, keeping them right in the hunt. But Brathwaite wasn’t done as he came back to bowl Heazlett in the 5.3rd over, breaking the partnership at a crucial moment. His spell of 2 for 17 in two overs, at an economy of 8.50, was a game-changer, keeping the Vikings’ scoring in check and swinging the momentum back to the Trailblazers.
Ben Manenti then turned the screws even tighter, sparking a mini-collapse. He got Chaudhary for 29, caught by Romario Edwards in the 6.2nd over, and followed it up by dismissing Suboth Bhati for a duck on the next ball, caught by Josh Kann. Manenti’s 2 for 26 in two overs, despite a 13.00 economy, was massive, leaving the Vikings at 81 for 5 after 6.3 overs, needing 37 runs off the last 21 balls. The chase was slipping away fast. Shadrack Descarte, who’d been a star with the ball, stepped up with the bat, fighting to keep the Vikings alive with an unbeaten 31 off 17 balls, including three huge sixes, at a strike rate of 182.35. He was swinging hard, trying to pull off a miracle, but he didn’t get enough support.
Leonardo Julien, the wicketkeeper, made 5 off 6 balls before a brilliant run-out by Hobson and Bangs in the final over ended his stay. The Vikings got a bit of help from 10 extras, 1 bye, 3 leg byes, and 6 wides, but it wasn’t enough to get them over the line. The Trailblazers’ bowlers stayed cool under pressure, and their sharp fielding sealed a 5-run victory in one of the most exciting matches of the MAX60 Caribbean tournament.
TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game
When the Vegas Vikings finished their innings at 112 for 6, Carlos Brathwaite’s brilliant bowling spell stole the spotlight, earning him TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game. The veteran all-rounder bowled two tight overs, giving away just 17 runs at an economy rate of 8.50, without a single wide or no-ball.
His pinpoint accuracy and cool-headedness were on full display as he dismissed Kennar Lewis for 8 in the second over and Sam Heazlett for 28 in the sixth, breaking a dangerous partnership and setting the tone for the Trailblazers’ bowling effort. Brathwaite’s ability to deliver under pressure and take out key batsmen at critical moments made him the hero of the moment, helping secure a thrilling 5-run win.
TCNI’s Hero of the Day
Starting the innings with a bang, David Warner delivered a match-defining performance for the Boca Raton Trailblazers, earning him TCNI’s Hero of the Day. The Australian star smashed an unbeaten 75 off just 30 balls, with eight fours and four sixes, at a blistering strike rate of 250.00.
His explosive knock powered the Trailblazers to a strong 117 for 3 at 11.70 runs per over. While Kevin Wickham added 29 off 20, George Munsey 7 off 4, and Nick Hobson 5 off 5, Warner’s brilliance was unmatched. Despite Shadrack Descarte’s impressive 3 for 22, no bowler could stop Warner, who stood firm as wickets fell at 79, 87, and 104, leading his team to a commanding total and a heart-stopping victory.
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