In the edge-of-the-seat GAW vs RR season opener of the Global Super League 2025, two-time title-holders Rangpur Riders earned a nail-biting 8-run win over home side Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium. Rangpur’s victory was well engineered by Bangladesh right-arm pace bowler Khaled Ahmed, who had a game-saver in a four-wicket haul to secure the close win.
Rangpur Riders Register Respectable 162/5 After Dismal Start
Choosing to bat first in their season’s first Global Super League match, Rangpur Riders played it safe early on. They scored just 40 from the powerplay, with openers Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar unable to pick up the pace.
But momentum changed with the arrival of Kyle Mayers. West Indies all-rounder stabilized the innings with a 44 not out scored off 31 balls. He had support from key late-order scores of Iftikhar Ahmed (34* off 21) and Nurul Hasan (18 off 10), getting Rangpur to a decent 162/5 after their innings.
Guyana Amazon Warriors Fall Short Despite Promising Start
In pursuit of 163, Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) got off to a good beginning. Though opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed early by Azmatullah Omarzai, a 48-run partnership between Johnson Charles (40) and Moeen Ali (27) kept GAW in contention.
But soon the tide changed as Rangpur bowlers picked up in succession. Even middle-order batsmen with double-digit scores such as Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Jewel Andrew, and Dwaine Pretorius couldn’t convert their beginnings to guide the team home.
Khaled Ahmed’s Brilliance in Death Overs Seals It for Rangpur
The turning point arrived with the brilliance of Khaled Ahmed, who bowled a fantasy spell in the last few overs. He got the dangerous Rutherford and Hetmyer out in the 15th and 17th overs respectively, and then struck twice in the 19th over, sending Pretorius and Shamar Springer packing off successive deliveries.
With 9 runs needed off the final over, Omarzai struck the first ball to dismiss David Wiese, bowling out GAW for 154 and ensuring an eight-run win for Rangpur Riders.
Key Performances: GAW vs RR – Global Super League 2025
Khaled Ahmed (RR): 4 wickets – match-winning spell at the death
Kyle Mayers (RR): 44* off 31 – steadying the innings after a slow start
Azmatullah Omarzai (RR): 2 wickets – including the last breakthrough
Johnson Charles (GAW): 40 off 25 – highest score for GAW during the chase
Moeen Ali (GAW): 27 off 19 – solid support in the early overs of the innings
What’s Next in the Global Super League 2025?
The Global Super League 2025 has started in great fashion with a nail-biting GAW vs RR match. The defending title holders, Rangpur Riders, have set down an early marker, while Guyana Amazon Warriors will attempt to return to form in their next game.
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