Amazon vs Patriots, 7th Match at Basseterre, CPL 2024, Sep 04 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11:37pm That will be all from us for tonight. We will be back at it tomorrow as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons take on the Trinbago Knight Riders. Until then, this is goodbye from Shashwat, Thilak and Vairavan. Take care, folks!

Imran Tahir, Guyana Amazon Warriors captain: I can expect anything from the team I have and that is the belief I have. We wanted to bowl first but then I looked at the pitch and thought of batting first to put them under pressure. Hetmyer played an unbelievable knock. (His advice to the bowlers at the half-way stage) Nothing you can do if the guys are playing good shots. I told them that if they chase it down, it will be a brilliant effort (from them). But as a bowling group, we have to look for wickets. They were well ahead of the game but we still came back. For me, it was more about belief, rather than going through the motions and seeing if they can do it (the chase) or not. We were very lucky to have such a good total on the board but defending is also an art, and glad we were able to do the job. As a leader, everyone looks at you and what you are going to do next. I didn't want to give another over to Junior Sinclair, he did very well in the powerplay. I want to bowl the difficult overs and pleased I could do the job for the team. And then I always kept Motie's overs, and he has been bowling amazingly well.

Andre Fletcher, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots captain: It is tough, very tough. Playing at our home ground, knowing the conditions, knowing there is a wind factor, bowling like this is unacceptable. It looks like school cricket. I might be coming down hard on the bowlers but we need to find a way to execute. We may not get it right at times but you cannot set fields when you are leaking runs on both sides. In team discussions, we talk about making batters hit against the breeze but we could not manage it (tonight). Their guys capitalized on our bad deliveries. The wicket is good, batting first and batting second. What plays a big role is how the bowlers execute. It is all about who executes well on the day. We, as a batting unit, are comfortable chasing 210-220. I remember talking to our guys when Nortje was brought back and took a wicket, that we were comfortable chasing 210-220. (On the chase) We were going well at a point in time but we kind of lost it when Sherfane got out. I was thinking they had both Sinclairs to come on, which is my match-up and Motie, who was Sherfane's match-up. If Sherfane had taken it (the risk) one ball later, maybe it could have been a different game. Even when I got out, I was thinking if I had taken it (the risk) one ball later, it could have been a (successful) chase. As captain, I cannot drop my head and encourage the guys, both on and off the field. We are playing for the franchise, for the owners, for the fans and we have no choice but to come back and win (the last two games at home) for them.

Shimron Hetmyer, Player of the Match: I think it was an innings of two halves. In the beginning, when me and Gurbaz were batting, we were going good. Then I had to pull it back a little bit after Gurbaz and Azam got out. A little bit of tiredness came in slightly (as well). (On not hitting any fours and if it was a plan) It was not planned. I was just trying to play the ball on its merit, rather than trying to do something different. (Difference this season) Just a little bit clearer this year and hungrier. Have been working on it in the nets, whether it be my batting or with my running between the wickets. (On his advice to the bowlers) I actually told them to try and take them wide as much as possible. It was tough to play cut shots on the whole and that is what I tried to tell them.

11:13pm Well, that was quite a slugfest. The joint-most sixes in a T20 game. Ever. The Patriots, to their credit, made a fist of this run-chase. Fletcher, who had not been in great form prior to tonight, led the way with a 33-ball 81 and while he was at the crease, a daring heist seemed truly achievable. That was also down to Mayers and Rutherford teeing off alongside their skipper but once Rutherford fell, the burden fell solely on Fletcher, whose dismissal in the 13th over further complicated matters for the hosts. None of the others could get going as well as they would have wanted, which allowed the Warriors to tighten their grip on the game.

Speaking of the Warriors, their bowlers also came in for some tap. But just when it was needed, they stood up. Tahir's double-wicket maiden was a proper momentum-shifter, as was Motie's three-wicket haul, which included the scalp of Fletcher. Pretorius also popped up with a wicket right at the start and then towards the end to add to his batting cameo earlier in the evening.

11:09pm The players are back on the field and we are primed to resume. 51 needed off 17. Louis on strike

11:04pm Okay, some positive news now. The covers are coming off, which does indicate the rain might have eased up.

11:01pm Oh dear, the players are now coming off and the rain is falling quite steadily. The covers have come on rather frantically, although it is tough to tell if this is another passing shower or if this is here to stay

The rain is starting to fall. But we go on for now

70 needed off 30. Pretorius is back for his third. The Patriots will need something special to get over the line from here