Nabi dismantles batting, Hope anchors chase for Amazon Warriors win


Guyana Amazon Warriors kicked off their CPL 2026 campaign with a dominant six-wicket victory over Jamaica Kingsmen at Sabina Park in Kingston, chasing down 118 with 35 balls to spare. The result sent the Amazon Warriors to the top of the table while leaving the Kingsmen winless after three matches. Kingsmen Collapse Batting First: Sent in to bat, Jamaica struggled to build momentum as Khary Pierre and Shamar Joseph struck early in the powerplay. Nabi Runs Through the Middle Order: Player of the Match Mohammad Nabi delivered a devastating spell of 4 for 22 in four overs. Supported by skipper Imran Tahir (2/26), Nabi triggered a collapse from 61/3 to 117 all out in 9.4 overs. Hendricks Provides Lone Resistance: Reeza Hendricks top-scored for Jamaica with 40 off 32 balls, sharing a 35-run stand with skipper Rovman Powell (24 off 17) before his dismissal off Tahir opened the floodgates. Early Wicket & Recovery: Guyana lost 21-year-old debutant Mavendra Dindyal to Jediah Blades on the first ball of the chase. However, Glenn Phillips (28 off 17) and Shai Hope rebuilt with a 42-run partnership. Hope Anchors the Cruise: Andre Russell's double-strike in the sixth over offered brief hope for Jamaica, but Shai Hope anchored the pursuit with an unbeaten 56 off 41 balls. Joined by Nabi (19 off 15) and Quentin Sampson (13* off 9), Hope steered Guyana home comfortably in the 15th over. Amazon Warriors suffered a setback straight up as Mavendra Dindyal, the 21-year-old debutant, fell first ball to Jediah Blades, but there was very little joy for Kingsmen after that. Hope and opener Glenn Phillips added 42 for the second wicket in 31 balls, and though Andre Russell sent back Phillips and Shimron Hetmyer in the same over - the sixth - that was as good as it got for Kingsmen. Hope took his time but never allowed any doubts to creep in, scoring 56 not out in 41 balls, and had good alliances with Nabi (19 in 15) and Quentin Sampson (13 not out in nine), to take Amazon Warriors, the runners-up from the previous season, past the line. Guyana Amazon Warriors 118 for 4 (Hope 56*, Russell 2-12) beat Jamaica Kingsmen 117 (Hendricks 40, Nabi 4-22, Shamar Joseph 2-22, Tahir 2-26) by six wickets