Guyana: Bangladesh allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz made an impressive debut in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) by claiming three wickets as his side, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, cruised to a four-wicket victory over the St Lucia Kings at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Miraz joined the Guyana team as a replacement for Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi and finished with figures of 3-13 from his four overs. His contribution was instrumental in bowling out the Kings for 119 runs. Guyana Amazon Warriors comfortably chased down the target, scoring 122-6 in 18.3 overs.
The Bangladesh spinner made an immediate impact by striking in his first over and later removing John Campbell in the seventh over. He further dismantled the opposition by taking the wickets of Kemal Savory and Charith Asalanka in his third over. Notably, Savory's leg-before-wicket decision could have been overturned upon review, as replays suggested the ball would have missed the stumps.
Miraz's debut performance was complemented by the exceptional bowling of Guyana captain Imran Tahir, who claimed 5-17 in his four overs. The spin duo effectively restricted the St Lucia Kings to a modest total, setting up a straightforward chase for their team. Although Miraz was dismissed for just one run during the pursuit, his bowling effort played a crucial role in the victory.
Imran Tahir, who was named Player of the Match, praised Miraz's performance, acknowledging the challenge of replacing Mohammad Nabi, one of Guyana's key performers this season. Tahir expressed his excitement about having Miraz in the team and hailed him as a world-class bowler with international acclaim.
Miraz joined the team with eight matches remaining in the tournament following Nabi's departure to join Afghanistan's T20 series against India. Nabi had been Guyana's leading wicket-taker, claiming 13 wickets in seven matches.