GEORGETOWN – Debutant teenager Nicolas Pooran stunned the Guyana Amazon Warriors but Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel fell short by 19 runs in their Caribbean Premier League encounter at the Providence Stadium Wednesday night.
The 17-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman blasted six sixes and one four on his way 54 off 24 balls that earned him the Fastest Innings award.
Pooran’s effort provided optimism for the Red Steel who were chasing 156 for victory but only managed 136 for nine off their 20 overs.
Darren Bravo (23) and Justin Guillen (22) were the only other batsmen who coped with the Amazon Warriors spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Sunil Narine and the Man-Of-The-Match, left-arm pacer Krishmar Santokie.
The Jamaican took the crucial wicket of Darren Bravo, caught by wicketkeeper Denish Ramdin, and bowled Kevin O’Brien with a disguised slower delivery for eight in the crucial dying stages. He also spectacularly ran out Kevin Cooper before the batsman had faced a ball.
Permaul finished with three for 32, Santokie two for 20 and Narine two for 29.
After Amazon Warriors were sent in, Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill gave them a good start.
Simmons, severe on anything loose, struck two fours and one six in a knock of 42 off 50 balls. He put on 74 for the first wicket with Guptill who made 32.
Mohammad Hafeez was caught by Ross Taylor off Kevin O’Brien for 14, and Simmons was caught by Davy Jacobs off Dwayne Bravo, but Warriors still looked comfortable at 103 for three.
However, Christopher Barnwell was caught without scoring, and Narsingh Deonarine run out for one three runs later.
James Franklin and captain Ramnaresh Sarwan gave the Amazon Warriors a crucial late surge with an unbeaten stand of 49.
Dwayne Bravo had two wickets but conceded 41 runs including 21 in his last over. (CMC)
