The highly anticipated Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finally kicked off with the opening game of the round-robin league fixture, featuring Trinbago Knight Riders𒆙 (TKR) and Guyana Amazon Warriors (🦄GAW) on Tuesday.
The match witnessed an early setback due to rain which reduced the opening encounter of tꦓhe league to 17-over a side contest. The Knight Riders opted to field first after winning the toss and immediately got the desired result, with the early wicket of Brandon King.
The Warriors are on ཧthe chargꦕe here with Hero Maximums from Hetmyer,Taylor and Pooran.
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
Chandrapaul Hemraj’s wicket reduced the Wa🍸rriors to 23-2 before New Zealand veteran Ross Taylor (33) initiated t⛎he rear-guard action along with Shimron Hetmyer.
NARINE MAGIC!!! Sunil Narine strikes early.
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
A visibly stocky Hetmyer answered his critics with a brilliant 63 off 44 deliveries, to take the Warriors to a reputable score🐻 of 144-5. Nicholas Pooran and Keemo Paul scored vital cameos to support Hetmyღer at the other end.
The Knight Riders began their chase in their trademark counterattacking fashion🍸. However, it wa♉s Sunil Narine who had the stranglehold throughout the match.
The wily off-spinner first picked ♋up a co🐽uple of wickets with a ball and conceded only 19 in his four overs, at a miserly economy of 4.8.
Later, he came out and bludgeoned the Warriors’ bowling attack wi💃th his 28-ball 50, at a strike-rate of 178.57.
Not just a pinch hitter! Narine's second Hero CPL fifty, off just 27 balls, and are well set with captain Polly at the crease with time to spare.
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
Narine’s blitzkrieg only left formalities in the match as Warriors tried to make a comeback with the wickets of Kieron Pol🌄lar♏d and Tim Seifert.
Moreover, with the Bravo brothers – Dwayne and Darren – at the crease, the Knight Riders threatened to cruise past Warriors score. The match came down to the wire with three needed from three deliveries.
But it w🅺as Dwayne Bravo’s boundary which sealed a four-wicket win for the Knight Ri♔ders.
It was a helluva knock from Hetty, & Naveen showed why everyone's so excited, but it was the Narine Show once again for – THEY BEAT BY 4 WICKETS WITH TWO BALLS TO SPARE.
What a game to kick off Hero CPL 2020!
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
