By KNEWS

Copyright kaieteurnewsonline

Warriors locked in must-win battle against 3rd place Falcons

Sep 10, 2025
Sports

Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League…

By Clifton Ross

Kaieteur Sports – Guyana Amazon Warriors enter tonight’s match against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, in a must-win situation with time and games slipping away as they seek to solidify their place amongst the finalists this year.

Sitting in 4th place with 8 points, an outright win tonight could send the Guyana National Stadium, Providence into a frenzy as their beloved team could shoot up the points table and cement a place in the final spots which are currently being sought after by the other In-form franchises.

The Falcons won their last game which adds to their momentum against the Warriors, who by virtue of their loss in the last game have shown that they can be beaten at home.

Opener Andries Gous, after missing an easy century in the last game, alongside big players like Shakib Al-Hasan, skipper Imad Wasim, Fabian Allen and Kevin Wickham will need to hold the middle order together.

Amir Jangoo and Gous will be looking to build on their partnership at the top of order after showing glimpses of form this season.

What the Falcons may lack in batting they make up for it with bowling as pacers Obed McCoy, Jayden Seales, Pakistani Salman Irshad, who played a key role in the last game with his crafty bowling and Shamar Springer could pose a threat to an already shaky Warriors batting order.

International Veterans Wasim and Shakib will also have 8 crucial overs between them as they seek to add to the Warriors mixed streak.

Warriors diverse bowling attack will definitely be called to arms after a slight decline in the past few games.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir is the leading wicket-taker this season and should easily assert himself with Gudakesh Motie and Moeen Ali forming a good 3-man rotation in the slow-bowling department.

Fast-bowlers Dwaine Pretorius, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul, possibly Shamar Joseph or Jediah Blades could also play key roles depending on the combination of the final XI.

Amazon Warriors batting which clicked early in the competition seemed to take a bit of a downslide, with the exception of Shai Hope who should be the one Tahir focuses his other batsmen around.

Warriors could also look to play a power-hitters game by requiring more from the likes of Shepherd, Pretorius, Paul and the highly-aggressive Quentin Sampson.

However, the opening combination has been terrible this season, with a struggling Ben McDermott having just one half-century in the only game he played well in, as a number of combos have been used with little success.

Should the Warriors solve their issues at the top ahead of this final lap, it is likely that their remaining games should be relatively easier as they look to force their way into the final slots.

With the race for the final slots heating up, much can be expected from tonight’s battle as the Warriors are in dire need of a win should they remain in the hunt, while the Falcons third place position could also be up for grabs as the two teams final themselves separated by a mere point.

The first ball is expected to bowl off from 19:00h.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, CPL, Gudakesh Motie, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Imad Wasim, Shakib Al Hasan