Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 77 for 1 (Cornwall 49, Lewis 23*) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 76 (Moqim 4-13, Shadab 4-16) by nine wickets
Amazon Warriors lost their way after the powerplay after being asked to bat, losing eight wickets in just 3.1 overs as they slid from 40 for 1 to 49 for 9.
The collapse began in the eighth over when Moqim struck twice. Glenn Phillips was caught at midwicket off a googly before Mohammad Haris (1) was caught behind attempting to cut the spinner.
Shadab then celebrated a hat-trick in the ninth over. Shimron Hetmyer holed out to long-on before Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Quentin Sampson were dismissed for first-ball ducks by deliveries aimed at the stumps. Mehidy was lbw to a googly, while Sampson was bowled trying to defend.
Moqim’s left-arm wristspin then accounted for Khary Pierre, who missed with an extravagant drive at a ball turning in. Two balls later, Shai Hope also succumbed, trapped lbw while trying to flick off the back foot. Shadab then rattled Imran Tahir’s stumps to leave Amazon Warriors in danger of folding for under 50.
A 27-run partnership in 4.4 overs for the tenth wicket between Romario Shepherd (14*) and Shamar Joseph (7) provided some resistance before Shamar Springer claimed the final Amazon Warriors wicket in the 15th over.
The chase moved at breakneck speed, with Cornwall leading the charge. Amazon Warriors began with spin but found none of the success Falcons had enjoyed. Cornwall tore into Tahir, Mehidy and Pierre in the first three overs, racing to 49 off his first 15 balls. At the other end, Evin Lewis (23*) had scored just one run when Falcons brought up 50 without loss.
Lewis then attacked Joseph’s pace in the fourth over, hitting two fours and two sixes to reduce the equation to single figures. Cornwall fell trying to find another boundary off Tahir in the fifth, but Lewis and No. 3 Amir Jangoo wrapped up the chase before the powerplay was even completed.
Amazon Warriors will now face Jamaica Kingsmen in the second qualifier on September 18 for another chance to reach the final. Falcons will meet the winner of that match in the title clash on September 20.