CPL 2025, Match 23 Review: Warriors clinch Providence blockbuster against Knight Riders

CPL 2025, Match 23 Review (Photo Source: CPLT20/Getty Images)

The Match no. 23 of the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 saw Guyana Amazon Warriors beat Trinbago Knight Riders by three wickets with one ball remaining.

It was another last over thriller in Providence as both sides looked to sure up qualification for the playoffs, in the end the teams could barely be separated but Dwaine Pretorius and Gudakesh Motie scored the nine runs needed off the final over to secure the win for Warriors in front of their home crowd.

Pretorius was named the player of the match for his unbeaten 26 that included a towering and crucial six off Kieron Pollard in the final over after stalling consecutive maximums off Andre Russell at the end of the 18th over to tilt the match towards the Warriors. The all-rounder also claimed 1/26 with the ball to cap off a clutch performance.

Imran Tahir won the toss and elected to field first, the Warriors using a total of seven bowlers in their twenty overs as they sought to restrict the Knight Riders firepower. Kieron Pollard could not be contained though, blasting 54 off 18 deliveries with five fours and five sixes. Critical runs that saw a total of 167/5 to set up a tantalizing Warriors chase.

Shai Hope (53) notched another fifty in a fruitful partnership with Shimron Hetmyer (49) before Sunil Narine removed both in quick succession to keep the Knight Riders hopes alive, but Pretorius’ cameo with the bat proved the difference in the end.

“I love playing for this franchise. The crowd came out again tonight, and I’m really glad we could get this win, as it makes our road forward a bit easier. It’s always great to be playing against TKR, as they are a really strong side, so I’m happy about that performance. I’m trying to stay calm. I think Shai Hope’s innings was unbelievable. It’s always tough in these conditions, and we know it gets easier in the back end. He played really well. Moeen Ali bowled awesomely today, and overall, I think it was a great team performance. [Last over] Pollard was making me wait, so I thought, let him wait as well, and I tried to get something back [laughs], Player of the Match Pretorius said at the post-match presentation.

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