BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, September 19, 2026: Jamaica Kingsmen chased 207 with two balls remaining to eliminate Guyana Amazon Warriors by five wickets in CPL 2026 Qualifier 2, before captain Rovman Powell produced one of the night’s most memorable moments by sharing his Player of the Match award with Guyana centurion Shimron Hetmyer.
Hetmyer’s unbeaten 102 from 45 balls had carried Guyana to 206 for four at Kensington Oval. Jamaica answered with relentless intent. Maaz Sadaqat blasted 41 from 17, Kirk McKenzie made 34 from 20, Keacy Carty controlled the middle overs with 56, Saim Ayub contributed 23, and Powell finished unbeaten on 40 from just 17 deliveries.
Hassan Khan then clipped Romario Shepherd through midwicket for two from the fourth ball of the final over, taking Jamaica to 207 for five and into the CPL final in their first season as a franchise.
The Kingsmen will now meet Antigua and Barbuda Falcons on Sunday at Kensington Oval, completing an extraordinary playoff journey for a team that finished fourth during the league phase.
Story at a glance
Hetmyer Produces a Hundred Worthy of a Final
Guyana’s innings could hardly have begun worse.
Imran Tahir: ‘They Played Better Cricket Than Us Tonight’
Guyana captain Imran Tahir admitted afterward that the defeat was difficult to process because his batting unit had finally produced the kind of total the Warriors had been waiting for.
Maaz Sadaqat Turns 207 Into a Chaseable Target in 17 Balls
Sadaqat had entered Qualifier 2 only two days removed from the defining innings of his young career.
Kirk McKenzie Keeps the Powerplay Moving
Sadaqat’s dismissal did not reduce Jamaica’s aggression.
Keacy Carty Controls the Middle of the Chase
Carty’s innings provided exactly what Jamaica required after the explosive opening.
The Sports Encounter had identified Jamaica’s Powerplay aggression as one of the decisive factors in our CPL 2026 Qualifier 2 preview. Jamaica followed that route almost perfectly, racing to 75 for one from the opening six overs.
For continuing finals-week coverage, follow The Sports Encounter’s CPL 2026 Hub.
Jamaica vs Guyana Qualifier 2: Match at a Glance
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Caribbean Premier League 2026 |
| Match | Qualifier 2 |
| Date | September 18, 2026 |
| Venue | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Toss | Jamaica Kingsmen won the toss and fielded |
| Guyana Amazon Warriors | 206/4 in 20 overs |
| Jamaica Kingsmen | 207/5 in 19.4 overs |
| Result | Jamaica Kingsmen won by five wickets with two balls remaining |
| Guyana Top Scorer | Shimron Hetmyer 102* from 45 |
| Jamaica Top Scorer | Keacy Carty 56 from 40 |
| Jamaica Finisher | Rovman Powell 40* from 17 |
| Player of the Match | Rovman Powell, who shared the award with Shimron Hetmyer |
| Final | Jamaica Kingsmen vs Antigua and Barbuda Falcons |
Five Moments That Decided Qualifier 2
- Shimron Hetmyer rescued Guyana from 20 for two with an unbeaten 102 from only 45 balls.
- Maaz Sadaqat’s 41 from 17 deliveries gave Jamaica an explosive beginning to the 207-run chase.
- Jamaica reached 75 for one after six overs and 101 for two at the halfway stage.
- Keacy Carty’s 56 controlled the middle overs and prevented the required rate from escalating.
- Rovman Powell took over at the death, finishing 40 not out from 17 balls with four sixes.
Hetmyer Produces a Hundred Worthy of a Final
Guyana’s innings could hardly have begun worse.
Mohammad Haris was run out for nine, Mavendra Dindyal followed for the same score, and the Warriors were 20 for two after 4.2 overs.
Only a day earlier, Guyana had been bowled out for 76 by Antigua and Barbuda Falcons as Shadab Khan and Sufyan Muqim took eight wickets between them. The Sports Encounter documented that collapse in our full Qualifier 1 report.
Hetmyer made sure there would be no repeat.
He and Shai Hope rebuilt through a 96-run stand before Hunain Shah removed Hope for 40.
Hetmyer then accelerated brutally.
He finished unbeaten on 102 from 45 deliveries, striking four fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 226.66.
Quentin Sampson added 29 from 17, and Romario Shepherd finished unbeaten on 10 as Guyana reached 206 for four.
After three damaging late-season batting failures, 206 looked like the response Guyana had been waiting for.
Imran Tahir: ‘They Played Better Cricket Than Us Tonight’
Guyana captain Imran Tahir admitted afterward that the defeat was difficult to process because his batting unit had finally produced the kind of total the Warriors had been waiting for.
Tahir said: “I think that’s what we’re expecting from our batting, and finally, they took the responsibility and put a very good score for us to defend.”
He refused to use the wet conditions as an excuse, although he acknowledged that bowling became increasingly difficult as the evening progressed.
Tahir said: “I’m the kind of guy who never wanna complain about the conditions.”
Guyana knew at the innings break that moisture would make gripping and controlling the ball harder. Tahir said the team discussed precisely that challenge before going out to defend 206.
The Warriors still believed early wickets could expose Jamaica’s middle order.
They never arrived.
Sadaqat and McKenzie instead attacked immediately, forcing Guyana’s spinners to operate with a wet ball while defending against a chase already running ahead of the required rate.
Tahir said: “They had a good start, so we were expecting that, but I think if we could have picked up two, three wickets earlier, that would put a lot of pressure on the incoming batsmen.”
He pointed specifically to the middle overs, where Tahir, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Khary Pierre had been among Guyana’s strongest performers throughout CPL 2026.
This time, Jamaica denied them control.
Maaz Sadaqat Turns 207 Into a Chaseable Target in 17 Balls
Sadaqat had entered Qualifier 2 only two days removed from the defining innings of his young career.
His 112 from 49 balls had powered Jamaica past Barbados Tridents in the Eliminator, an innings covered in The Sports Encounter’s full Eliminator report.
Against Guyana, he did not need another hundred.
He needed to change the equation quickly.
Sadaqat smashed five fours and three sixes in a 17-ball 41, striking at 241.17.
By the time Pretorius deceived him with a slower delivery, Jamaica had already reached 42 from three overs.
A target of 207 had suddenly become 165 required from 102 balls.
The Sports Encounter’s profile of Sadaqat’s rise examined how rapidly the young Pakistani batter has emerged as one of the most aggressive players in Jamaica’s lineup.
The playoff evidence continues to support that assessment.
Kirk McKenzie Keeps the Powerplay Moving
Sadaqat’s dismissal did not reduce Jamaica’s aggression.
McKenzie struck five fours and one six in his 34 from 20 balls, repeatedly finding the gaps while Guyana searched for a way to slow the chase.
Jamaica reached 75 for one after six overs.
That Powerplay changed the mathematics.
The original asking rate was 10.35 an over.
Jamaica had scored at 12.5 per over through the first six.
When Tahir dismissed McKenzie at 90 for two, the Kingsmen were still comfortably positioned.
Keacy Carty Controls the Middle of the Chase
Carty’s innings provided exactly what Jamaica required after the explosive opening.
He did not try to reproduce Sadaqat’s strike rate.
He kept the innings connected.
Carty reached his half-century from 35 balls and eventually made 56 from 40, including five fours and three sixes.
At the halfway stage, Jamaica were 101 for two.
Saim Ayub then helped Carty add 62 for the third wicket, contributing 23 from 17 balls and ensuring Guyana never found the cluster of wickets Tahir believed could have transformed the contest.
Saim’s return strengthened Jamaica’s playoff lineup, a development The Sports Encounter examined in our pre-Eliminator analysis.
When Pretorius dismissed Saim at 152 for three after 15.1 overs, Jamaica needed 55 from 29.
The next batter was their captain.
Rovman Powell Enters in the 16th Over and Changes the Finish
Powell later made an important point about his entry into the match.
He was not walking into a rescue mission.
The top order had already created the platform.
Powell said: “Credit has to be given to the guys who batted the first 15 overs. I think they were exceptional.”
That distinction shaped his intent.
Powell did not need to survive before attacking.
He could attack immediately.
Khary Pierre felt the consequences first. Powell launched two enormous sixes against the left-arm spinner and changed the chase within a handful of deliveries.
Carty was run out for 56 in the same over, leaving Jamaica 172 for four after 16.5 overs.
Thirty-five were still required from 19 balls.
Powell remained.
Powell Explains Why He Attacked Imran Tahir
The tactical battle with Tahir became one of the most revealing parts of Powell’s post-match interview.
The Jamaica captain explained that the difference was his mindset.
Powell said: “When you’re batting to survive, your intent is different from when you’re batting to really score.”
He recognized Tahir’s googly as the main threat but backed himself to get close enough to the pitch of the ball to attack it.
Powell said: “Once I get close to the googly, I back myself to hit it for six.”
It encapsulated Jamaica’s approach to the entire chase.
They never allowed the size of the target to push them into survival mode.
Powell’s 40 Not Out Becomes His Most Impactful CPL Innings
Powell finished unbeaten on 40 from 17 deliveries.
His innings contained two fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 235.29.
He described it afterward as possibly the best innings he has played in terms of impact.
Powell said: “It’s the most impactful, to be honest, and it’s good to get such an impactful innings in a playoff game that pushes us to the final.”
The captain also returned to one of the central principles of his leadership.
Powell said: “I’ve always, as a captain, wanted to lead from the front.”
Qualifier 2 gave him that opportunity.
One Missed Catch Still Troubles Tahir
Guyana did have opportunities.
Tahir identified a missed catch involving young Mavendra Dindyal as the moment he believed could have changed the contest.
He was careful not to blame the youngster.
Tahir said: “He tried his best. It’s always a difficult one, but in that situation, I think that catch was very valuable for our team.”
The significance was not simply the dropped chance itself.
When defending 206 in wet conditions against a batting side operating above the required rate, every opportunity becomes more valuable because the bowling side has fewer ways to create pressure.
Guyana needed Jamaica’s chase interrupted.
The Kingsmen kept moving.
Jamaica Reach 200 With Eight Balls Remaining
Powell attacked Shamar Joseph in the penultimate over.
A low full toss disappeared behind square for four.
Another overpitched delivery was launched over square leg for six.
By the end of the 19th over, Jamaica were 201 for four.
Six were needed from six balls.
Shepherd began the final over with a dot, then bowled consecutive wides before removing Andre Russell for two.
Jamaica were 203 for five.
Four runs were required from four balls.
Hassan Khan entered at No. 7.
His first scoring shot brought two as Dindyal charged forward in the deep but could not quite reach the chance.
One ball later, Shepherd delivered a low full toss into Hassan’s pads.
Hassan shuffled across and clipped it through midwicket.
Two runs.
Match over.
Jamaica 207 for five.
Powell Shares Player of the Match Award With Hetmyer
Then came the moment that moved the story beyond the scorecard.
Powell was officially named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 40 and the way he finished the chase.
He chose not to take the recognition alone.
Powell invited Hetmyer to share the award after the Guyana batter had produced an unbeaten century in a losing cause.
It was an unusually generous piece of sportsmanship after one of the most intense matches of the tournament.
Hetmyer’s 102 had given Guyana every realistic chance of reaching another CPL final.
Powell recognized that.
The gesture also carried additional weight because Guyana and Jamaica had just played a knockout game in front of a heavily pro-Guyana crowd at Kensington Oval.
Hetmyer Responds to Powell’s Gesture
Hetmyer was clearly disappointed by the result but praised Powell for sharing the award.
He described the Jamaica captain as “a hell of a guy to do something like that.”
Hetmyer also acknowledged that Jamaica had produced the better performance when the tournament reached its decisive moment.
The exchange summed up the night neatly.
Hetmyer produced the innings of the match.
Powell produced the innings that finished it.
Powell: Jamaica Have Completed Two of Their Three Goals
For Powell, reaching the final carries significance beyond one playoff victory.
Jamaica Kingsmen are playing their first CPL season.
The captain revealed that the franchise entered the tournament with three targets.
The first was to reach the playoffs.
The second was to see whether they could squeeze into the final.
Both have now been achieved.
Powell said: “Feeling good to see a franchise come back to Jamaica, and we are in the final.”
He then turned immediately toward the remaining objective.
Powell said: “Hopefully, Sunday we can push for the next one.”
The turnaround is particularly striking because Jamaica lost six of their 10 league games and finished fourth.
They then saved their strongest cricket for the playoffs.
Tahir Says Guyana’s Campaign Still Deserves Respect
For Guyana, the defeat ended a run of three consecutive appearances in CPL finals.
Tahir admitted that reality made the result especially difficult.
He had wanted another chance to finish the season on the biggest stage.
Instead, the league-stage leaders were eliminated in consecutive playoff defeats.
Tahir nevertheless rejected the idea that the campaign should be judged entirely by its ending.
He praised his players for how they worked together, respected one another and celebrated each other’s success.
Tahir said: “It’s been a great team effort. We gelled in really well, respect each other, enjoy each other’s success.”
The captain also thanked Guyana supporters across the Caribbean, describing the warmth the squad experienced while travelling through the islands.
His final message was directed toward Jamaica.
Tahir said: “I just want to wish all the best to the team who qualified, and I hope that they have a good final.”
Guyana’s Season Ends With Two Completely Different Defeats
Few playoff exits contain such a dramatic contrast.
Against Antigua in Qualifier 1, Guyana were dismissed for 76.
Against Jamaica, they made 206 for four.
They lost both.
The late-season warning signs had appeared earlier when Antigua handed Guyana their first league defeat. Shadab Khan and Alzarri Joseph were central to that result, examined in The Sports Encounter’s report on the Falcons’ league-stage win.
Guyana still finished first after winning eight of 10 matches.
The playoffs exposed a different reality.
The batting failed completely in one game.
The bowling could not defend 206 in the next.
For Tahir, the final stage of the campaign became the only part that Guyana could not solve.
Complete Guyana Amazon Warriors Scorecard
Guyana Amazon Warriors: 206/4 in 20 Overs
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Haris | run out (Hassan Khan) | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Mavendra Dindyal | c Saim Ayub b Hassan Khan | 9 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Shai Hope | c McKenzie b Hunain Shah | 40 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 121.21 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | not out | 102 | 45 | 4 | 8 | 226.66 |
| Quentin Sampson | c Saim Ayub b Andre Russell | 29 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 170.58 |
| Romario Shepherd | not out | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 142.85 |
| Extras | 7 | |||||
| Total | 206/4 in 20 overs | |||||
Fall of wickets: 9/1, 20/2, 116/3, 181/4.
Jamaica Kingsmen Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hassan Khan | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 |
| Andre Russell | 3.5 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.39 |
| Rovman Powell | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Hunain Shah | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Saim Ayub | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 11.33 |
| Keemo Paul | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.66 |
| Vitel Lawes | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 17.50 |
Complete Jamaica Kingsmen Scorecard
Jamaica Kingsmen: 207/5 in 19.4 Overs
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maaz Sadaqat | c Pierre b Pretorius | 41 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 241.17 |
| Kirk McKenzie | c Mohammad Haris b Imran Tahir | 34 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 170.00 |
| Keacy Carty | run out (Pierre) | 56 | 40 | 5 | 3 | 140.00 |
| Saim Ayub | c sub b Pretorius | 23 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 135.29 |
| Rovman Powell | not out | 40 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 235.29 |
| Andre Russell | c Hope b Shepherd | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Hassan Khan | not out | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Extras | 7 | |||||
| Total | 207/5 in 19.4 overs | |||||
Fall of wickets: 42/1, 90/2, 152/3, 172/4, 203/5.
Continue the CPL 2026 Story
Guyana Amazon Warriors Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwaine Pretorius | 4 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 9.25 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 4 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 10.75 |
| Romario Shepherd | 2.4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 10.50 |
| Khary Pierre | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 11.33 |
| Imran Tahir | 4 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Shamar Joseph | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 15.00 |
Jamaica’s Pakistan-Linked Core Reaches the Final
The Kingsmen’s run also reinforces one of the distinctive features of their debut CPL season.
Jamaica assembled an unusually Pakistan-heavy overseas group. The official CPL overseas-player announcement included Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Shayan Jahangir and Tayyab Arif.
That recruitment strategy is now influencing the playoff story directly.
Sadaqat has produced 112 and 41 in consecutive knockout matches.
Saim helped stabilize the Qualifier 2 chase.
Hunain dismissed Hope.
Hassan produced Jamaica’s most economical four-over spell and then scored the winning runs.
Antigua vs Jamaica Gives the CPL Final a Strong Pakistan Connection
Antigua’s path to the final carries its own Pakistani influence.
The Falcons’ official overseas-player announcement included Shadab Khan and Sufyan Muqim.
Those two bowlers then combined for eight wickets in Qualifier 1, with Shadab taking a hat-trick as Guyana were dismissed for 76.
Jamaica now arrive with Sadaqat, Saim, Hunain and Hassan all involved in the playoff XI.
That does not replace the Caribbean identity of the final.
It gives it another compelling layer.
The Final Is Also a Rematch of Opening Night
Antigua and Jamaica have already played one of the tournament’s closest matches.
The Falcons beat Jamaica from the final delivery on opening night at Arnos Vale.
The Sports Encounter’s opening-match report detailed how Jamaica came within one delivery of starting their debut season with victory.
They meet again with the championship at stake.
Jamaica have changed significantly since August.
Sadaqat and Saim are now embedded in the batting structure.
Powell has just produced his most impactful innings of the tournament.
Antigua, meanwhile, have discovered a devastating spin pairing in Shadab and Muqim.
Jamaica’s Playoff Transformation
The Kingsmen entered the playoffs after losing a final-ball thriller to Barbados, a match covered in The Sports Encounter’s report from Kensington Oval.
Since then, they have played their best cricket of the season.
They chased 145 for one in 14.1 overs against Barbados.
They chased 207 for five in 19.4 against Guyana.
The manner of those wins matters.
The Eliminator belonged almost entirely to Sadaqat.
Qualifier 2 was a collective chase.
Sadaqat started it.
McKenzie sustained it.
Carty controlled it.
Saim connected the middle.
Powell finished it.
Hassan supplied the last two runs.
When Is the CPL 2026 Final?
Jamaica Kingsmen face Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the CPL 2026 final at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Sunday, September 20.
The official CPL schedule placed the championship match at the end of Barbados finals week.
Both finalists are chasing a landmark title.
Jamaica have reached the final in their debut season.
Antigua are appearing in their first CPL championship match.
One new champion will leave Kensington Oval with the trophy.
Jamaica vs Guyana Qualifier 2 FAQs
Who won CPL 2026 Qualifier 2?
Jamaica Kingsmen beat Guyana Amazon Warriors by five wickets.
What did Guyana score?
Guyana made 206 for four from 20 overs.
Who scored a century for Guyana?
Shimron Hetmyer scored an unbeaten 102 from 45 balls.
Who was Player of the Match?
Rovman Powell was officially named Player of the Match after making an unbeaten 40 from 17 balls.
Why did Powell share his Player of the Match award?
Powell chose to share the recognition with Shimron Hetmyer after the Guyana batter scored an unbeaten 102 in defeat.
Who top-scored for Jamaica?
Keacy Carty made 56 from 40 deliveries.
What did Maaz Sadaqat score?
Sadaqat made 41 from only 17 balls.
Who scored the winning runs?
Hassan Khan struck two runs through midwicket from Romario Shepherd to complete the chase with two balls remaining.
Who will Jamaica play in the CPL final?
Jamaica will face Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.
Is this Jamaica Kingsmen’s first CPL final?
Yes. Jamaica Kingsmen have reached the championship match during their inaugural CPL season.
For continuing cricket coverage, visit The Sports Encounter’s Cricket Hub.
Guyana Amazon Warriors
- Jamaica Kingsmen Edge Guyana Amazon Warriors in a High-Scoring Thriller to Enter CPL 2026 Final
- CPL 2026 Qualifier 2: Can Guyana Rise From 76 All Out as Jamaica Ride Maaz Sadaqat’s Surge?
- Shadab Khan’s Hat-Trick and Sufiyan Muqeem’s 4-for Destory Warriors as Falcons Muscle into CPL 2026 Final
- Chedean Nation Makes History as Guyana Amazon Warriors Beat TKR to Lift Maiden WCPL Title
- One Win From the CPL Final: Guyana and Antigua Settle Their 1-1 Split
