Guyana Amazon Warriors opened their CPL 2026 campaign with a commanding six-wicket victory over the Jamaica Kingsmen at Sabina Park on Thursday. The Kingsmen, struggling after consecutive losses, were dismantled by a disciplined spin-heavy bowling attack that restricted them to a modest total of 117 all out with two balls remaining in their innings.
Guyana’s decision to bowl first paid immediate dividends. Khary Pierre dismissed Shayan Jahangir early, and Shamar Joseph removed Keacy Carty to close the Powerplay with the Kingsmen at 26 runs. Although Reeza Hendricks and Rovman Powell attempted to stabilize the innings with a 35-run partnership, captain Imran Tahir broke the stand by removing both batters. Mohammad Nabi then dismantled the middle and lower order, finishing with impressive figures of 4-22. With Glenn Phillips also claiming a wicket, the spinners were responsible for eight of the ten Kingsmen wickets to fall.
The Amazon Warriors’ chase faced an early setback when debutant Mavendra Dindyal fell for a golden duck. However, a 42-run partnership between Glenn Phillips and Shai Hope quickly regained momentum for the visitors. Andre Russell provided a brief glimmer of hope for the hosts by dismissing both Phillips—who contributed a breezy 28—and Shimron Hetmyer in the final over of the Powerplay.
Shai Hope remained composed, anchoring the chase with steady strike rotation and calculated aggression. He shared a 51-run partnership with Mohammad Nabi, who added 19 runs before being dismissed by Vitel Lawes. Hope ultimately reached his half-century and finished unbeaten on 56, sealing the win by hitting a six off Hassan to reach the target of 118 with 35 deliveries to spare.
Brief scores: Jamaica Kingsmen 117 all out in 19.4 overs (Reeza Hendricks 40; Mohammad Nabi 4-22, Shamar Joseph 2-22, Imran Tahir 2-26) lost to Guyana Amazon Warriors 118/4 in 14.1 overs (Shai Hope 56*, Glenn Phillips 28; Andre Russell 2-12) by 6 wickets.
The Kingsmen managed just 26 runs in that phase before Reeza Hendricks looked to inject some fuel into the innings.
Hendricks and Rovman Powell shared a 35-run partnership but skipper Imran Tahir removed them both on either side of Hassan Khan’s dismissal, which marked Nabi’s first.
Nabi ended with returns of 4 for 22, while Glenn Phillips chipped in with a wicket of his own as the spinners accounted for eight of the ten wickets to fall.
Nabi then ran through the lower middle-order, the death knell for the Kingsmen coming in the form of Andre Russell’s dismissal as he chipped one back tamely.
