With an all-around bowling performance that saw them hold the Saint Lucia Kings to 143 all out to win Qualifier 1 by 14 runs, the Guyana Amazon Warriors advanced to the 2025 CPL final. The Amazon Warriors have moved to their eighth final and will now await the outcome of Friday night’s Qualifier 2 between the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Kings to determine their opponent in the championship game.
The Kings won the toss and decided to bowl first to start the evening. The Warriors reached 45/1 at the end of the Powerplay after a respectable batting start, but the Kings always seemed to be in the game since they took consistent wickets throughout their innings.
The most damage was done by Tabraiz Shamsi, who took three wickets to maintain his position at the top of the Kings’ wicket-taking record, but newcomer Tymal Mills grabbed 2/28 on his CPL debut.
Shai Hope, who continued his excellent 2025 season with 32 from 29, was a pillar of support for the Warriors as wickets tumbled all around him. The Warriors reached 157 all out after some strong blows from Dwaine Pretorius and Romario Shepherd. Given what has happened on this ground during the Guyana leg, this total felt insufficient.
As the Saint Lucian team fell to 12/3 and then 48/7, the Warriors swiftly allayed their anxieties by tearing apart the Kings’ top order. The loss of the core of their batting lineup made it hard for the Kings to accomplish.
The Kings’ score was given some respectability by a 37-run partnership between Khary Pierre and Alzarri Joseph, but as the pace continued to rise, another wicket was soon lost, with Joseph being caught in the deep for 14. Although Mills achieved a career-best 30 and Pierre went on to make his first T20 fifty, the damage had already been done earlier in the innings.
With 19 wickets at the end, Imran Tahir solidified his status as this year’s most damaging bowler with final stats of 2/22. As the spin duo dominated this match, Gudakesh Motie claimed 4/30.
The Warriors will advance directly to the final on Sunday after winning their last three games. The Kings’ CPL campaign is far from over; after finishing first in the table, they will have another chance to advance to the final when they play the Knight Riders on Friday night under the lights.
India
