Hetmyer, Shepherd help Amazon Warriors end TKR 12-game win streak

Shimron Hetmyer of Guyana Amazon Warriors hits a maximum during the 2021 Hero
CPL match against Trinbago Knight Riders at Warner Park Sporting Complex yesterday
in Basseterre, St Kitts & Nevis.. (Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/Getty Images)

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Left-hander Shimron Hetmyer’s sparkling half-century and
Romario Shepherd’s three-wicket blitz condemned reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders
(TKR) to a nine-run defeat in the opening game of the Caribbean Premier League here yesterday.
Sent in at Warner Park, Guyana Amazon Warriors were lifted to 142 for seven off their 20 overs
courtesy of Hetmyer’s top-score of 54 off 41 balls, which included four fours and a couple of
sixes. In reply, TKR were held to 133 for nine from their 20 overs after fast bowler Shepherd
snatched three for 15 from his four overs.
Denesh Ramdin top-scored with 28 and New Zealander Tim Seifert chipped in with 23, but
rebounding from 86 for six when captain and talisman Kieron Pollard perished at the end of the
14th over, proved a mountain too high to climb for TKR.
“I just thought at the back end we gave them a couple too many runs, dropping a couple catches
and we weren’t as sharp as we normally are,” said a disappointed Pollard,
And when we batted, I think we lost wickets too quickly, in clusters. I think we only have
ourselves to blame for not coming over the line in this one.”
The defeat was the first since 2019 for TKR who produced a record unbeaten campaign last
season in winning the title in Trinidad and Tobago.
Nicholas Pooran, in charge of Amazon Warriors for the first time this year, said they had
approached the game positively despite being up against a difficult TKR side.
“We talked about starting the tournament good. TKR are a very good team but the thoughts were
all positive,” said Pooran.
“It was tough at the end but we stuck at it. We fought, we fought and we fought to the end. Hetty
(Hetmyer) played very good and Odean Smith played well and we’re very thankful for this
victory today.” Hetmyer’s knock was pivotal especially after openers Chandrapaul Hemraj (13)
and Brandon King (9) both failed, and Smith belted a 15-ball 24 with fours and six, before
missing a swing at off-spinner Sunil Narine (2-17) in the eighth over, and having his stumps
shattered.
Hetmyer tempered his stroke-play to add 22 for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik (2) before
adding 38 for the seventh wicket with Shepherd (9 not out), after Pooran perished cheaply for 12
in the 18th over. TKR’s run chase was then unusually disjointed and lacking in partnerships and
with wickets tumbling regularly, Amazon Warriors always appeared in control. Shepherd made
all the key strikes, removing dangerous opener Lendl Simmons for five in the second over with
14 runs on the board, holing out to mid-off, before returning to account for Pollard (2) cheaply,
gloving a lifter behind in the 14th over.
Ramdin, who hit two fours and a six off 25 balls, became Shepherd’s third victim with the game
already gone, picking out Shoaib at long-on in the penultimate over.
Fast bowler Smith (2-10) and South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir (2-17) picked up two
wickets apiece