The Barbados Tridents concluded the group phase of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026 with a decisive six-wicket win against the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Kensington Oval.
AM Ghazanfar and Johann Layne each took three wickets, leading to the Warriors being bowled out for a mere 99 runs, marking their second-lowest score of the season. Brandon King played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 44 to help the Tridents secure their sixth win of the tournament.
Bowling Prowess of the Tridents
After being invited to bat first, the Warriors started off well, hitting a few boundaries in the initial overs. However, the situation quickly deteriorated in the third over when Ghazanfar dismantled the top order, taking three wickets in just five balls. He began with a fortunate stumping of Mavendra Dindyal, followed by dismissals of Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, leaving the Warriors struggling at 15 for 3.
Continued Pressure from Tridents’ Bowlers
Glenn Phillips tried to stabilize the innings but fell victim to George Linde, who took two wickets in consecutive deliveries, including a chance for a hat-trick. Although Quinton Sampson and Romario Shepherd showed some resistance, Johann Layne broke their partnership by dismissing Sampson and then quickly took out Ronaldo Alimohamed. Sherfane Rutherford then entered the attack and swiftly ended the Warriors’ innings, leaving them all out for 99.
Chasing Down a Modest Target
Despite the low target, the Warriors remained hopeful, knowing that early wickets could shift the game’s momentum. Veerasammy Permaul struck first, dismissing Zachary Carter cheaply, followed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowling out Quinton de Kock for just three runs. The Tridents, however, managed to reach 33 for 2 by the end of the Power Play.
Milestone for Imran Tahir
The Warriors turned to their captain, Imran Tahir, who was playing his 100th CPL match, hoping he could turn the tide. Tahir made an immediate impact by taking out Rutherford, but Brandon King and Shadrack Descarte maintained their composure. Descarte entertained the crowd with his aggressive batting style until rain interrupted play. After the delay, Descarte struggled to regain his rhythm, but King remained steady, finishing with an unbeaten 44 and guiding the Tridents to victory with 31 balls to spare. Despite the loss, the Warriors topped the group stage, while the Tridents secured third place and advanced to the playoffs.