Image: St Lucia Kings played a great game on the field and defeated Guyana Amazon Warriors / © ESPNcricinfo
The match where the Guyana Amazon Warriors took on the St Lucia Kings in the 13th match of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 at Gros Islet was a thrilling encounter. The Warriors, batting first after winning the toss, aimed to set a challenging total on a pitch that promised runs. Their innings was a tale of early struggles, a steady recovery, and a late flourish that propelled them to a formidable 202/6 in 20 overs, driven by a sensational performance from Romario Shepherd.
The Warriors’ innings began with a fiery start from Ben McDermott, who looked in fine touch. He smashed 30 runs off just 18 balls, including three fours and two sixes, giving the innings early momentum. His aggressive approach was cut short in the 3.3rd over when Keon Gaston dismissed him, caught by Tim David. Kevlon Anderson, McDermott’s opening partner, didn’t last long either, managing only 5 runs before falling to Gaston in the next over.
The Warriors were 38/2 by the end of the 3.5th over, with Gaston’s fiery spell putting them on the back foot. Moeen Ali, expected to anchor the middle order, disappointed with a three-ball duck, bowled by Khary Pierre in the 4.3rd over. This left the Warriors reeling at 39/3, and the pressure mounted as Shimron Hetmyer followed soon after, run out for just 3 runs in the 6.4th over. At 47/4 after the powerplay, which yielded 44 runs for three wickets, the Warriors were in dire straits, needing a partnership to stabilize the innings.
Shai Hope and Iftikhar Ahmed took on the responsibility of rebuilding. Hope played a cautious knock, scoring 23 runs off 27 balls with two fours, but his stay was ended by Oshane Thomas in the 12.1st over, leaving the Warriors at 78/5. The strategic timeout at the 10-over mark saw them at 68/4, with Hope and Iftikhar trying to consolidate. Iftikhar, batting sensibly, contributed 33 runs off 27 balls, hitting a four and three sixes, providing some stability. However, his dismissal in the 18.4th over, caught by Tim Seifert off David Wiese, triggered a late surge that defined the Warriors’ innings.
The real fireworks came from Romario Shepherd, who played an unbeaten knock of 73 runs off 34 balls. His innings was a masterclass in power hitting, featuring five fours and seven sixes, at a strike rate of 214.70. Shepherd, alongside Iftikhar, stitched a crucial 100-run partnership for the sixth wicket in just 39 balls, with Shepherd contributing the lion’s share. His fifty came off 23 balls, and he continued to accelerate, punishing the Kings’ bowlers, particularly Oshane Thomas, who had a night to forget as he conceded 33 runs in a single over. Shepherd’s onslaught included hammering seven sixes, turning the tide in the Warriors’ favour.
Dwaine Pretorius chipped in with a quickfire 18 not out off 6 balls, including two fours and a six, as the Warriors crossed the 150-run mark in 16.3 overs and reached 200 in 19.4 overs. The innings ended at 202/6, with 17 extras (13 wides, 3 no-balls, and 1 leg-bye) boosting the total. The Kings’ bowling unit struggled, with Gaston (2/57) and Pierre (1/30) being the pick, while Thomas’ 4 overs went for a costly 63 runs. Tabraiz Shamsi was economical, conceding just 21 runs in his 4 overs, but failed to take a wicket. The Warriors’ late charge, led by Shepherd’s brilliance, set a daunting target of 203, giving them confidence going into the second innings.
The St Lucia Kings’ chase of 203 against the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL 2025 match was a rollercoaster of explosive batting and timely breakthroughs, culminating in a stunning 4-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare. Ackeem Auguste’s scintillating 73 off 35 balls was the cornerstone of the chase, earning him the Player of the Match, as the Kings climbed to second place in the CPL standings.
The Kings’ innings got off to a brisk start with Tim Seifert and Johnson Charles opening the batting. Charles, however, fell early for 13 runs off 8 balls, caught by Shai Hope off Jediah Blades in the 1.4th over. Despite the early loss, the Kings raced to 86/1 in the powerplay, scoring at an impressive rate. Seifert and Ackeem Auguste then forged a crucial 87-run partnership for the second wicket in just 47 balls, setting the tone for the chase. Seifert played a supporting role, scoring 37 off 24 balls with four fours and a six, before falling to Imran Tahir in the 9.3rd over, with the score at 105/2.
Auguste was the star of the show, displaying remarkable composure and aggression. His 73 off 35 balls included six fours and four sixes, at a strike rate of 208.57. He reached his fifty off just 19 balls, one of the fastest in the match, and dominated the Warriors’ bowlers. The Kings crossed 50 runs in 4.1 overs and 100 in 8.1 overs, with Auguste leading the charge. His partnership with Seifert was electric, and even after Seifert’s departure, Auguste kept the momentum going. Roston Chase joined him briefly, scoring a quick 12 off 6 balls before being dismissed by Gudakesh Motie in the 11.4th over, leaving the Kings at 134/3.
Auguste’s innings ended in the 12.4th over, caught by Ben McDermott off Blades, with the score at 140/4. His 73 was the defining knock, keeping the Kings well ahead of the required run rate. Tim David took over, scoring 25 off 15 balls with two fours and a six, ensuring the chase stayed on track. The Kings reached 150 in 13.3 overs, but David’s dismissal by Motie in the 15.4th over at 179/5 brought some tension. Aaron Jones contributed 16 off 12 balls but fell to Pretorius in the 17.5th over, leaving the Kings at 195/6, needing just 8 runs off the last 14 balls.
David Wiese, the Kings’ captain, remained unbeaten on 10 off 8 balls, steering the team home alongside Khary Pierre, who hit a boundary off his only ball faced. The Kings finished at 203/6 in 18.1 overs, with Jediah Blades delivering the final ball. The Warriors’ bowling attack struggled to contain the Kings’ aggressive batting. Motie was the standout, taking 2 wickets for 32 runs, while Blades also claimed 2 wickets but was expensive, conceding 35 runs in 3.1 overs. Imran Tahir and Dwaine Pretorius picked up one wicket each, but the likes of Romario Shepherd (0/28) and Moeen Ali (0/18) were unable to make breakthroughs.
The Kings’ chase was bolstered by 13 extras, all wides, which added to their momentum. The strategic timeout at 9.3 overs saw them at 105/2, well-placed to chase down the target. Auguste’s explosive knock, combined with contributions from Seifert, Chase, and David, ensured the Kings maintained a high run rate throughout. Their ability to score 200 runs in just 18.1 overs, at a run rate of 11.17.
When the Guyana Amazon Warriors needed a hero, Romario Shepherd stepped up with a breathtaking performance in their CPL match, earning the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game. Chasing a daunting target, the Warriors were in trouble at 78/5 after losing key batsmen like Ben McDermott (30 off 18) and Shai Hope (23 off 27). Enter Shepherd, who unleashed an explosive unbeaten 73 off just 34 balls, smashing 5 fours and 7 towering sixes at a staggering strike rate of 214.70.
His aggressive batting turned the game around, single-handedly powering the Warriors to a commanding 202/6 in 20 overs, with a run rate of 10.10. Shepherd’s onslaught was supported by Dwaine Pretorius’ quickfire unbeaten 18 off 6 balls, adding crucial momentum. Despite Keon Gaston’s 2/57 and David Wiese’s 1/30, the opposition bowlers struggled to contain Shepherd’s relentless attack. His 46-minute blitz, especially after the fall of Iftikhar Ahmed (33 off 27) at 180/6, ensured the Warriors posted a formidable total.
Ackeem Auguste delivered a match-defining performance for the St Lucia Kings in their thrilling chase of 203 runs against their opponents. The young batsman smashed an explosive 73 runs off just 35 balls, earning him the TCNI Hero of the Day title. His aggressive knock, packed with six fours and four sixes, boasted an incredible strike rate of 208.57. Coming in after the early dismissal of Johnson Charles, Auguste anchored the innings, forming a crucial 87-run partnership with Tim Seifert to steady the Kings’ chase.
His fearless approach kept the run rate soaring, even as wickets fell around him. Auguste’s innings ended in the 12.4th over, caught off Jediah Blades, but not before he had set a solid platform for the Kings to reach 203/6 in just 18.1 overs. His 52-minute masterclass was pivotal in securing the victory, proving his mettle under pressure. Supported by contributions from Tim David (25 off 15) and Roston Chase (12 off 6), Auguste’s dynamic batting ensured the Kings chased down the target with ease.