The St Lucia Kings have a simple recipe for success: mix in a pinch of Johnson Charles, a dash of Faf du Plessis, and boom! You’ve got a one-way ticket to the CPL final. That formula was on full display in the Qualifier 1 match against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, where the Kings soared to a 15-run victory via the DLS method. With rain threatening to play spoil-sport, the Kings ensured they had already done enough to punch their ticket to the final—thanks to a lethal batting display and a rain-induced curtain call.
Let’s dive into the action, the drama, and the sheer swagger that took the Kings to the brink of CPL glory.
Charles and Faf: The Dynamic Duo
If cricket had a superhero pairing, it would be Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis. The pair has been a thorn in the side of bowlers all season, and this match was no different. Together, they stitched an opening partnership of 124 runs off just 70 balls, leaving the Guyana bowlers scratching their heads and fans reaching for popcorn.
Charles, fresh off his daily routine of terrorizing bowlers, blasted 79 off 45 balls with ease. His ability to handle both pace and spin left the Amazon Warriors’ attack looking like they’d shown up to a sword fight with water guns. Faf, on the other hand, played the perfect foil, racking up a composed 57 off 36 balls, ensuring the Kings made the most of every opportunity to punish loose deliveries.
Charles’ new and improved game against spin has been the talk of the tournament. He took the Amazon Warriors’ spinners to task, making them look as menacing as a fluffy kitten. His aggressive, yet calculated, approach allowed Faf to settle into his own rhythm and accelerate when needed. The pair made the pitch look like a road, even when it clearly wasn’t.
Guyana’s Tough Day at the Office
After the Charles-Faf show, the Warriors found themselves in damage-control mode. With 198/5 as the target, it was always going to be a tall chase. The decision to open with Keemo Paul as a pinch-hitter was, let’s just say, an interesting experiment. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. Keemo scratched his way to 14 off 15 balls before becoming another statistic on Alzarri Joseph’s wicket tally.
The Warriors’ top order had its moments of brilliance but couldn’t convert starts into match-winning knocks. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shai Hope teased the crowd with glimpses of potential, scoring 24 off 18 and 27 off 22 respectively, but both fell victim to the mounting scoreboard pressure.
Hetmyer’s Heroics and the Rain Gods
As the chase began to falter, Shimron Hetmyer decided to channel his inner superhero. With wickets tumbling around him, Hetmyer took matters into his own hands and started dishing out some serious punishment. The left-hander’s aggressive knock of 37 off 18 balls* gave the Warriors a flicker of hope. He launched back-to-back sixes off Noor Ahmad and took a couple more off Roston Chase. It looked like Hetmyer might just pull off the impossible.
But then, as it so often happens in T20 cricket, the rain gods intervened. Just as Guyana was starting to build momentum, the heavens opened, and the match was cut short. With Guyana at 106/4, they found themselves trailing behind the DLS par score, and the Kings were declared the winners by 15 runs.
If you’re a Guyana fan, it was a bitter pill to swallow. One minute, Hetmyer’s smacking sixes like he’s in a video game; the next minute, you’re checking the weather app, hoping for a miracle that never comes.
Kings’ Bowling Holds Firm
While Charles and Faf stole the headlines with their batting, it was the St Lucia Kings’ bowlers who ensured the Amazon Warriors were always playing catch-up. Alzarri Joseph picked up a crucial wicket early on, dismissing Keemo Paul and breaking any plans of a fast start. Spin wizard Noor Ahmad may have been taken for a couple of sixes by Hetmyer, but his earlier pressure ensured the run rate kept climbing.
The Kings’ bowlers executed their plans well, keeping the dangerous Warriors lineup in check until the rain arrived. With Hetmyer running out of partners and time, it was always going to be a tough ask for Guyana to recover.
The Road to the Final
For the St Lucia Kings, this victory takes them to the CPL final for the third time in four seasons. With Charles and Faf in form, they’ll fancy their chances of lifting the trophy. The Warriors, on the other hand, have a second bite at the cherry. They’ll face the Barbados Royals in Qualifier 2, hoping to join the Kings in the final showdown.
Can the Kings complete their fairytale run? Will Charles and Faf continue to terrorize bowlers in the final? Or will the Warriors find redemption in their next game? Stay tuned—this CPL season is heating up!
FAQs
The St Lucia Kings won the match by 15 runs (DLS method) to qualify for the CPL final.
Johnson Charles (79 off 45) and Faf du Plessis (57 off 36) were the stars with the bat, while Alzarri Joseph contributed with the ball, taking a crucial early wicket.
The match was halted by rain in the second innings, with Guyana Amazon Warriors trailing the DLS par score. This resulted in a victory for the Kings by 15 runs.
The Kings set a challenging target of 198/5 in their 20 overs.
The Warriors will face the Barbados Royals in Qualifier 2, with the winner earning a place in the CPL final.
Conclusion: Kings Eye CPL Glory
The St Lucia Kings are one step closer to CPL glory, thanks to their dynamic duo of Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis. Their brilliant opening partnership laid the foundation for a massive total, and despite a valiant effort from Shimron Hetmyer, the Guyana Amazon Warriors were left undone by rain and the DLS method.
As the Kings march into the final, confidence is high, and the stakes couldn’t be greater. For the Warriors, the journey isn’t over yet—they’ll have to dust themselves off and fight for their place in the grand finale. If they meet the Kings again, it promises to be a battle for the ages.
For now, though, the Kings reign supreme.
