GEORGETOWN – Lendl Simmons stroked a belligerent half-century as the Guyana Amazon Warriors sealed a convincing eight-wicket victory over the Jamaica Tallawahs as the Limacol Caribbean Premier League continued at the Providence Stadium on Friday night.
Needing 118 for victory, the Amazon Warriors romped to victory, thanks to an unbroken third-wicket stand of 60 between Simmons and Amazon captain Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Simmons was quick to pounce on anything loose, striking five fours and four sixes in a knock of 67 not out off 44 balls.
He was aided in his onslaught by Sarwan, whose 24 not out came off 19 deliveries.
The match was secured in the 14th over, when 22 runs were still required.
Simmons ripped into Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, hitting the spinner for three consecutive sixes.
After the first, he had gotten to his half-century. Twenty runs came from the over, leaving a wide from Chris Gayle and a single from Sarwan to polish off a perfect performance.
The Amazon Warriorswon with 5.3 overs remaining and joined the Barbados Tridents with a 100 per cent winning record after two matches.
Simmons swept all of the awards on the night, taking the Super Six Of The Match, the Digicel 4G Fastest Score Of The Match, and the Man Of The Match awards.
Muralitharan picked up the only wickets to fall, Martin Guptill, bowled for 17, and Mohammad Hafeed, caught by Jacques Rudolph for six, before he suffered the indignity of being smashed for three consecutive sixes in the 14th over by Simmons. He ended with figures of two for 33.
The Amazon Warriors won the toss and decided to give the Tallawahs first strike. The decision proved crucial as the Jamaica-based squad got dismissed for 117 in 19.1 overs.
Carlton Baugh topscored with 32 and was the last man out. David Bernard hit 24 and the other batsman to reach double digits was Danza Hyatt, who contributed 18.
There were three run outs in the innings, including the crucial scalp of captain Gayle for six.
Left-arm fast medium Krishmar Santokie bowled with great precision and control to claim three for 20 and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul held a consistent line, bagging two for 24.
The victory for the Amazon Warriors was their second straight of the series, while the Tallawahs went away hoping they can improve soon on their opening performance. (CMC/www.cplt20.com)
• Log onto nationnews.com for a report on last night’s match between Barbados Tridents and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel
