Amazon vs Tallawahs, Qualifier 2 at Providence, CPL 2023, Sep 22 2023 - Match Result

Thanks for tuning in through the night, and we'll be back for the final on Sunday between Amazon Warriors and Knight Riders. Until then, on behalf of Binoy George and everyone else at Cricinfo, this is Rvel Zahid signing off

Brandon King, Jamaica Tallawahs Captain: I don't think we bowled particularly well. The pitch seemed a decent one at the toss. In the end, we have to give credit to Azam, he played a very good innings. I don't think we bowled badly but he just found gaps...I believed we would have got to the (total) and we didn't feel it was out of reach. We assessed that it was a decent wicket to bat on especially with the dew falling more in the evening, but we found it challenging, more challenging batting second. (learnings) I think just to balance everything. this season obviously being captain (for the first time), so balancing everything was new to me but I will learn from this experience. (standout performers this season) Imad, again, last season, he was brilliant for us with both bat and ball and Mohammad Amir with the ball. They were very consistent players for us. Springer has been training really well so he is one to look for the future.

Imran Tahir, Amazon Warriors Captain: I feel really proud. If coming to this competition anyone says that I will be playing the final, I will take it any day. I am just very proud of our boys. everybody chipped in and it's the story of the whole season since we started everyone tried to play their role, people who didn't do much performances, I think they still haven't left their hopes, they worked really hard...really nice to see Azam get some runs today; he has been working really really hard I can tell you that and Hetmyer. I am pleased that they both got runs, going forward obviously it's a big game for us and you want to see these guys making runs. Look, there is nerves you know. We have been in these situations many times before including myself so being part of this beautiful franchise for last six years...look I feel like if you are not nervous, you are not a human being, you maybe AB de Villiers (chuckles), because I think he is the best cricketer who never feels anything but I think that you have to have some nerves as long as it stays positive and only thing I said to the boys is we deserve to be in the final because the way we have been playing our cricket and we outclassed all other teams so we just need to keep believing in ourselves and play the game how we have been playing so I am pleased that everything we planned came nicely, especially in front of the home crowd. I really want to thank everyone. I think we got little but stuck with the bat, for me, I think that was a little worry there but we did speak about it (middle overs) I really want us to be at 100-125 after 14-15 overs, realistically but we got stuck little bit we knew we got Sheffie to come, Azam Khan; these guys can score 20 off 10 any day so I think we need to still improve a little bit on that and if we improve on that it's gonna be a good game (final). I have said that many times before, toss is just one thing because it's gonna go either way. If we win, we might get the benefit if they win, they are gonna get the benefit so we just need to focus on the game and how we want to plan ourselves. If we want to beat a good team we need to come (good) on the day and be fully focused. I just want to say finally thanks to all the crowd and all the Guyana people all over the world, their support is unbelievable.

Azam Khan: I think we lost a couple of wickets early on but the pitch wasn't that great to bat on because we knew it's gonna be tricky and especially the number I bat on, the situations always get tricky so I backed myself and was confident that I could take the game from there. I think it's about testing your nerves in the big games so that's what I was trying to do and just trying to be there and play my natural strokes. I was getting caught on deep square leg but today I had a different plan and I went over mid off and mid on...I succeeded and I am really happy about it. (On Dwaine's performance) Well he was great, especially with the new ball; he got two wickets and it's great of him to hand over his man of the match to me but I think he deserves it more than me. In the end I will just say that I am really happy and this is for the Guyanese people.

Dwaine Pretorius, Player of the Match: I think as a team we had a point to prove tonight. We have been one of the best teams in the tournament so far. We led ourselves down against TKR so the boys are hungry to get the cup for the home country and crowd and we have got great support playing at home so it's really awesome being able to get over the line tonight. I think they believe in me a lot, the analyst has done a great job and given me great plans but honestly I don't think tonight belongs to me, it belongs to AK (Azam Khan). I think he played a match turning innings tonight (hands his award to Azam)

Presentation ceremony coming up

Amazon Warriors have not put a foot wrong in this crucial clash, producing an inspired performance led by Azam Khan in the batting department and a staggering performance by the entire bowling unit, where everyone chipped in to make regular incisions and stayed on top. It was a no-show with the bat from the Tallawahs. Apart from Imad Wasim's unbeaten 43; only Hales and Allen reached double figures as the batters crumbled under scoreboard pressure. Imran Tahir was absolutely sensational on the big night, picking up three wickets in just 2.2 overs. Pretorius was breathing fire too, taking two wickets and conceding 21 runs in his quota of overs. In the end, the gulf between the two sides seemed too large