Warriors fall short despite Hodge effort

Brad Hodge's unbeaten 45 off 30 deliveries was not enough as Guyana Amazon Warriors fell just short against St Lucia Zouks in Gros Islet. Needing 157 in a match shortened to 18 overs per side, Amazon Warriors finished on 154 for 5.

Hodge and Tillakaratne Dilshan seemed to be guiding their side home with 14 needed off the last over but the latter was bowled by Fidel Edwards off the second ball. Dilshan had had to retire in the fourth over after being hit by a Kemar Roach bouncer, but returned in the 16th at the fall of the third wicket. He played a vital hand, hitting 29 off 16, but Amazon Warriors managed only one boundary after his dismissal.

Lendl Simmons (14 off 16) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (7 off 17) had failed to get going in the chase, and though captain Denesh Ramdin and Chris Barnwell chipped in, the asking-rate kept inching up. South African legspinner Eddie Leie had the best figures of 2 for 25 for Zouks, with Edwards also striking twice.

Zouks' total was set up by an opening stand of 77 inside seven overs between Andre Fletcher (36 off 22) and Johnson Charles (47 off 26). While Charles hit four sixes, Zouks failed to build on the start, managing 74 off the remaining 11 overs.

Kevin Pietersen was bowled by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul for 5, and Ross Taylor and Darren Sammy could not find the big hits at the end. Permaul and Sunil Narine picked up two wickets each.