Guyana clinch finals berth in last-over thriller against Knight Riders

Chasing Knight Riders' 122/7 on Tuesday, 11 September, Warriors found themselves in trouble at 52/5 before a 50-run sixth-wicket stand between Shimron Hetmyer (39) and Shane Rutherford (30) revived their innings. Sohail Tanvir then finished the game off with a six as Warriors finished on 126/8.

The match was affected by rain and was played on a pitch taking turn, as spinners from both sides made merry, picking up seven of the 15 wickets to fall.

Warriors got off to a disastrous start, slipping to 29/3, and then had half their line-up back for 52 by the end of the 12th over.

However, the revival came just as quickly as the disaster, as Hetmyer and Rutherford collected 34 from three overs when 68 were needed off the last seven. That brought the target down to a more manageable 34 from 24.

Another twist was in store when Hetmyer and Rutherford departed off successive deliveries. After collecting 13 runs from the first four balls of Kevin Cooper's final over, Hetymer was run out on the fifth ball and Rutherford was caught at long-off.

With only three wickets in hand and another 21 runs needed from 20 balls, Rayad Emrit felt the pressure and edged a Bravo delivery to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin to leave Warriors tottering.

But the tail decided to wag just at the opportune moment as Romario Shepherd hit a six and a four to bring the target down to four off the last six balls.

There was more drama in store, as Bravo, who bowled the final over, conceded just a single off the first four balls, leaving three needed off two. Tanvir, though, had other plans and as he launched the bowler down the ground for a six, and the crowd at Providence jumped in jubilant celebrations.

Earlier, Knight Riders had a hard time dealing with spinners too, as they slipped to 26/4 inside the first six overs. Darren Bravo and Colin Ingram revived the innings with a 48-run fifth-wicket stand before Tanvir returned to dismiss Bravo for 24.

Ingram fell for 25 in the 16th over with the score just 86, but Dwayne Bravo ensured that a run-a-ball 22, helped by Cooper's 15 off 10, took Knight Riders to a respectable total.

Knight Riders will now play the winner of the second Playoff match between Jamaica Tallawahs and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for a second shot at making the finals.

Player of the Match, Hetmyer, said he targetted the pacers. "I knew once the spinners were finished, the pacers were going to come back and it's going to be easy for us," he said. "I saw from the first innings, the ball was gripping when we were bowling. The first set of balls I faced against Sunil [Narine], it went past my outside edge. The intention was to keep him out of the game."

His captain, Green, was "very proud" of the team. "We had to keep it simple. Tonight's wicket was very conducive to spin. Full credit actually has to go the seam bowlers tonight," he said.

"Hetmyer and Rutherford – that partnership was clinical for us. They are in serious touch and couldn't have timed it better."

A disappointed Dwayne Bravo looked ahead to their next game and was not giving up on his team's title defence. "Congratulations to Guyana for making it to the final," he said."Got to give credit to our bowlers, the way they went out there trying to defend 123. I think the guys fought very well.

"We have another game up our sleeves and we look forward to that, we have what it takes to bounce back."