In a thrilling battle of the top two teams in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Barbados Royals secured a commanding 32-run win over Guyana Amazon Warriors, propelled by Quinton de Kock’s sensational maiden CPL century. His 68-ball 115, featuring eight fours and nine sixes, laid the foundation for the Royals’ 205/6 total, while the Amazon Warriors fell short at 173/5, suffering their first defeat of the tournament.
De Kock’s Destructive Batting Display
Put in to bat, the Barbados Royals got off to a strong start with Kadeem Alleyne setting the tone, smashing a six and a four in the opening over. Despite losing Alleyne early, de Kock took over, unleashing a barrage of boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. His early partnership with Alick Athanaze laid the foundation for a big score, with the Royals ending the powerplay at 49/1.
De Kock reached his 50 off 34 balls and continued his assault, dominating the Amazon Warriors bowlers. His clean hitting saw him clear the ropes frequently, including several sixes off Moeen Ali and Kevin Sinclair. Even Gudakesh Motie wasn’t spared as de Kock powered the Royals past 100 in just 11 overs.
Despite losing partners at the other end, de Kock remained unfazed, keeping the runs flowing with calculated aggression. He reached his century in the 17th over and added a few more lusty blows before finally falling in the last over. His knock was ably supported by Jason Holder’s quickfire 28* off 10 balls, which ensured the Royals crossed the 200-mark, setting a daunting total for the Amazon Warriors.
Amazon Warriors’ Chase Falters
The Amazon Warriors’ chase got off to a shaky start as Azam Khan fell early to Jason Holder. Tim Robinson and Shai Hope briefly steadied the ship, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Shimron Hetmyer looked dangerous, smashing three consecutive sixes, but his aggressive innings was cut short by Keshav Maharaj, who bagged three crucial wickets to derail the Warriors’ chase.
Shai Hope and Moeen Ali tried to keep the fight alive, but the required run rate continued to climb. Moeen played a brisk 19-ball 33, while Hope contributed 40, but neither could withstand the pressure applied by the Royals’ bowlers. Holder returned to pick up two wickets, including Hope’s crucial scalp, effectively sealing the game in the Royals’ favor.
Despite a rain interruption that halted play for nearly an hour, the Amazon Warriors struggled to regain momentum and finished at 173/5, falling 32 runs short.
Positives for Both Teams
While the Royals secured a vital victory to top the points table, the Amazon Warriors can take some positives from the match. Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope showed glimpses of brilliance, and Moeen Ali’s all-round contribution will give the team confidence moving forward. However, the lack of support for these key players proved costly as the Warriors failed to build significant partnerships.
For the Royals, Quinton de Kock’s blistering century was the standout performance. Jason Holder’s all-round display and Keshav Maharaj’s timely breakthroughs added further depth to their strong showing.
FAQs
Barbados Royals won the match by 32 runs against Guyana Amazon Warriors.
Quinton de Kock scored a sensational 115 runs off 68 balls.
Barbados Royals scored 205/6 in their 20 overs, while Guyana Amazon Warriors managed 173/5 in 20 overs.
Keshav Maharaj took 3 wickets for 42 runs, while Jason Holder picked up 2 wickets for 32 runs.
There was a rain interruption after the sixth over of the Amazon Warriors’ innings, but no overs were lost, and the match resumed after nearly an hour.
Conclusion
In a thrilling contest between two of the CPL’s top teams, Quinton de Kock’s maiden CPL century was the highlight, propelling Barbados Royals to a comprehensive 32-run victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Royals’ strong bowling unit, led by Keshav Maharaj and Jason Holder, ensured the Warriors never got close to the challenging target. As the tournament progresses, both teams will look to capitalize on their strengths, but it was the Royals who emerged victorious in this exciting encounter.
