An Australian player created an impact in the West Indies by dominating the Pakistani bowlers and leading his team to a significant victory. This player shared a crucial partnership with West Indies captain Shai Hope. They put together a partnership of 114 runs in just 59 balls in the second match of CPL 2025. During this, the Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Ben McDermott smashed a brilliant half-century, hitting 10 fours and four sixes. The West Indies captain also kicked off the league with an unbeaten half-century.
Ben McDermott ensured victory for Guyana.
The second match of CPL 2025 was contested between St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Guyana Amazon Warriors. Batting first, St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots scored 153 runs losing eight wickets in 20 overs. Andre Fletcher played a scintillating innings, scoring 60 runs off 41 balls. Fletcher hit a four and five sixes in his innings. Youngster Jyd Gooly contributed 24 runs. From the Amazon Warriors, Dwayne Pretorius, an all-rounder, took three wickets, conceding 43 runs in four overs, while Imran Tahir took two wickets. Ben McDermott made the 153-run target seem achievable and led the team to a five-wicket win.
Ben McDermott dominated the West Indies.
The Amazon Warriors’ first wicket fell early, but then Ben McDermott and Shai Hope shared a 114-run partnership for the second wicket. McDermott played a blistering innings of 75 runs off 39 balls during this partnership. He left no Amazon Warriors bowler unscathed, launching aggressive shots against all of them. During this innings, the batsman took 21 runs off one over bowled by Pakistan’s Abbas Afridi, and also attacked Naseem Shah.
Along with Ben McDermott, Shai Hope scored 56 runs not out. He hit five fours and two sixes. He provided excellent support to Ben McDermott. Even after McDermott’s wicket fell, Hope well managed one end and secured a win for his team, with 16 balls remaining. The veteran all-rounder Moeen Ali was out after scoring 19 runs.
St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ bowlers failed.
From St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Abbas Afridi took two wickets conceding 24 runs in two overs, while Naseem Shah, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Waqar Salamkheil each took one wicket. Their team’s fielding was poor. Early on in the innings, St. Kitts missed Ben McDermott’s catch off Naseem Shah’s bowling. At the time, he was batting at 32 runs. However, the exceptional player did not let them have another opportunity and played a valuable innings for his team.