A brilliant bowling display and an explosive innings from Dane Edward carried Amazonian Warriors to the Dream 11 Saint Lucia T10 Blast title on Tuesday, beating Iyanola Heritage by 10 wickets at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
Warriors and Heritage got the six-team tournament underway just two weeks ago, with Heritage winning by nine wickets and their West Indies opener Johnson Charles being player of the match with 51 runs from 23 balls.
Chrleas was absent on regional duty when the two sides met again in a qualifier as Warriors turned the tables in a six-wicket win with five balls remaining. Alleyne Prospere took 3-6 while Jaden Elibox led a balanced batting attack with 38 runs off 20 deliveries.
Come their third meeting in the final, the Warriors came out to play with a tremendous all-round effort in the field. Prospere struck in the first over, removing Ephron Charles for eight. Tyler Venner, in his sole over, got Kensely Paul for one. Jaden Elibox took care of Dominic Auguste and Vernillius Gabriel, and at the halfway mark of their innings, the Heritage were floundering at 36-4.
Jamaal James and captain Xavier Gabriel staged a recovery, adding 25 runs in the next three overs. But Sacchin Cepal ended James’ resistance, out for nine in the ninth over. Zayee Antoine grabbed three wickets in the final over as Heritage made 76-8. Xavier Gabriel top-scored with 22 from 18. Elibox finished with 2-19 and Antoine 2-23.
Dane Edward all but ended the chase in the first over, hitting 27 runs, including three sixes and a four off Aaron Joseph. Edward hit another six off Kensley Paul in the second over, and Murlan Sammy added two fours off Xavier Ganriel in the third. Kensley Paul continued his spell by getting hit for a six and a four, though he should have had Edward’s wicket in that over as well.
With only four overs gone, 36 balls remaining, and the target just 13 runs away, the Heritage had all but lost the plot.
Fittingly, it was Edward who applied the finishing touches with a four and two sixes off Wendell Inglis, clearing the boundary to make it 81 without loss. He finished with 63 runs off a mere 20 balls, four fours and seven towering sizes, a strike rate of 315, and a well-deserved player of the match award.
