BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) — Shimron Hetmyer and the Guyana Amazon Warriors produced a spectacular display of power hitting to neutralise the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and remain unbeaten in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Wednesday.

Hetmyer signalled his return to form with a boundary-laden 91 at Warner Park, as the Warriors posted the second-highest-ever score in the CPL of 266 for seven in their 20 overs.

It was just one run short of the 267 for two scored by the Trinbago Knight Riders in 2019.

The Patriots made a valiant effort in their run chase thanks mainly to the effort of captain Andre Fletcher, who made 81, but were eventually bowled out for 226 in 18 overs.

The 492 runs scored in the contest was also the second highest in the history of the CPL, while the 42 sixes hit equalled the record for the most sixes in a men’s T20 match. The Kolkata Knight Riders and the Punjab Kings also combined to hit 42 sixes in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Hetmyer blasted 11 sixes of his own during his 39-ball knock and his partnership of 116 with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made 69, served as the launching pad for the Warriors’ huge total.

After both Kevin Sinclair (17) and the in-form Shai Hope (12) fell cheaply to leave the Warriors 53-2 after six overs, Hetmyer joined Gurbaz at the crease and the two proceeded to dismantle the Patriots’ bowlers over the course of the next seven overs.

No bowler was spared from Hetmyer’s carnage, as all were repeatedly sent sailing over the ropes.

Medium pacer Odean Smith missed an opportunity to dismiss Hetmyer when he was just 18, but he could not hold on to the ball after it driven straight back at him.

That proved a costly mistake, and Hetymer eventually brought up his 50 off 23 balls when he guided a delivery from Mohammad Mohsin to short fine leg for a single.

Gurbaz took some time to find his stride, but once he did, he showed impeccable form while hitting Mohsin for two consecutive sixes in the eighth over, while medium pacer Ryan John along with Smith were also each hit for two sixes.

Gurbaz, who faced 37 balls and struck six sixes and four fours, was eventually bowled by fast bowler Anrich Nortje and Azam Khan was dismissed by Mohsin for two as the Warriors slid to 172 for four.

But Hetmyer found a reliable partner in Keemo Paul, and the two ensured their team’s momentum was not lost as they belted 44 runs from just three overs before Paul was eventually run out for 38.

Hetmyer fell agonisingly short of his century when he was dismissed at the end of the 19th over, lofting Smith to mid off where Mikyle Louis took a comfortable catch.

In their bid to create history, the Patriots were kept in the game by Fletcher and Kyle Mayers after Evin Lewis was dismissed for just three early on.

The duo added 69 in five overs before Keemo Paul got rid of Mayers for 28, to leave Patriots 73-2.

Sherfane Rutherford (38) joined his captain at the crease and kept the runs flow during a 64-run partnership in only three overs.

However, once medium pacer Raymon Reifer accounted for Rutherford in the ninth over, the Patriots lost their way and regularly lost wickets, slipping to 175-7.

Both Imran Tahir and Gudakesh Motie grabbed three wickets apiece, while Dwaine Pretorius nabbed two wickets for the Warriors.