An Australian batsman dominated the Pakistani bowlers in the Caribbean, leading his team to a remarkable win. The player’s partnership with West Indies captain Shai Hope was instrumental in securing the win. Together, they scored 114 runs in just 59 balls in the second match of CPL 2025. Ben McDermott, the Australian wicketkeeper-batsman, played a stunning innings, smashing 10 fours and four sixes to score a half-century. The West Indies captain also started the league well with an unbeaten half-century.
Ben McDermott helped Guyana to victory.
The second match of CPL 2025 was between St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Guyana Amazon Warriors. St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots batted first, scoring 153 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. Andre Fletcher played a powerful innings, scoring 60 runs from 41 balls, including a four and five sixes. Jyd Gooly contributed 24 runs. For the Amazon Warriors, Dwayne Pretorius took three wickets for 43 runs in four overs, and Imran Tahir took two wickets. Ben McDermott made the 153-run target look easy, leading his team to a five-wicket victory.
Ben McDermott created a sensation in the West Indies.
After losing their first wicket early, the Amazon Warriors saw Ben McDermott and Shai Hope forge a 114-run partnership for the second wicket. McDermott scored a blistering 75 runs off 39 balls during this partnership. He attacked every bowler from the Amazon Warriors. The aggressive batsman scored 21 runs in a single over against Pakistan’s Abbas Afridi and also attacked Naseem Shah.
Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 56 runs. His innings featured five fours and two sixes. He supported McDermott well. After McDermott’s dismissal, Hope ensured the team’s win, finishing the match with 16 balls remaining. Moeen Ali, the veteran all-rounder, was out after scoring 19 runs.
St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ bowlers had an off day.
Abbas Afridi of St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots 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. St. Kitts missed a catch of Ben McDermott off Naseem Shah’s bowling early in the innings, when he was batting at 32 runs. McDermott seized the opportunity and played a crucial innings for his team.