Amazon Warriors edge Unicorns in thriller

Georgetown, Guyana (CMC):

Defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors produced an unbelievable performance to edge the San Francisco Unicorns by six runs in a low-scoring Global Super League (GSL) final at Providence Stadium on Saturday.

The Unicorns appeared on course for a maiden title after Anirudh Immanuel and Peter Siddle took three wickets apiece to rout the home side for a meagre 85 in 18.5 overs. But in a stunning turnaround, Dwaine Pretorius and Mohammad Nabi both grabbed three wickets to spark a collapse, as the visitors tumbled from 53 for three to 79 all out in a record-breaking thriller.

It was the lowest-scoring match of the 2026 GSL, the lowest successful defence in a T20 tournament final, and the lowest aggregate in a T20 franchise league decider.

At one stage, the Amazon Warriors looked unlikely to reach their eventual total after Siddle and Immanuel ripped through the top order, leaving them in shambles at 29 for eight inside nine overs. A 41-run partnership between Matthew Forde, who top-scored with 28 off 23 balls, and Pretorius, unbeaten on 17 from 30 deliveries, lifted the tally. Captain Imran Tahir was the only other batter in double figures, scoring 11 at number 11. Immanuel finished with 3-7, while Siddle claimed 3-18.

Despite losing Tim Robinson to the first ball of the innings, and Connor Esterhuizen and Hassan Khan cheaply to slip to 28 for three, the Unicorns recovered through Oliver Peake and Sanjay Krishnamurthi to reach 53 for three. But when Nabi had Krishnamurthi caught for nine, the collapse began. Five wickets fell for five runs, leaving the Unicorns reeling at 58 for eight.

Fabian Allen was bowled by Pretorius for six to make it 72 for nine, setting up a tense finish. With seven runs required from the last 10 balls, Callum Stow pushed Forde to mid-off and set off for a quick single, only to be run out by a direct throw from Shimron Hetmyer at the non-striker’s end — sparking massive celebrations among the Amazon Warriors.

Nabi, named Player of the Match, ended with 3-12, Pretorius took 3-24, and Tahir chipped in with 2-16.