The CENTRAL STAGS had their chances in the opening match of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) against the Dubai Capitals, in their first T20 on South American soil overnight (NZT).

Battling jet lag and sweltering Caribbean heat, the spin trio of Ajaz Patel, Angus Schaw and Dean Foxcroft relished the predicted slow conditions, helping the Stags to take the upper hand through the middle of the first innings.

Captain Tom Bruce had won the toss and sent in the Dubai T20 franchise specialists, and Schaw’s 3/27 nearly matched his all-time T20 career best 3/25.

He was instantly rewarded with a wicket first ball, after Will Young pulled off a spectacular diving catch to dismiss dangerman and Sri Lanka international Niroshan Dickwella for the opening breakthrough.

Schaw quickly had three wickets, including a wicket off his first delivery at the lucrative tournament. 

Wickets came quickly for Foxcroft, too in the subcontinent-style conditions — the spinning allrounder playing his first match for Central since 2019, while the stellar Patel hit the ground running in his first match back from a six-month injury break. 

Patel and Young will head to Zimbabwe for two BLACKCAPS Tests following this tournament, Patel turning in a tight 0/20 that produced a runout off his first over.

But there was rust in the machinery across the side, playing together for the first time since early April.

The Stags had the Capitals at 82/5 just after the halfway mark, and Central looked a good chance.

GSLT20 | Getty Images

Enter veteran Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan who, at 38, can still swing a bat.

He rescued his side with an unbeaten 58 from 37 balls, taking the Capitals to 165/7 in the process.

In the humid, rain-bothered conditions, Shakib transformed the anticipated target from tame to testing, then he spun in with 4/13 to make the ask for the chasing Stags ever more demanding.

That chase had started brightly, however. 

Classy Young opened with Dane Cleaver (21) and cleared the rope early. Young looked set for a good day out, but after Shakib successfully reviewed an LBW appeal, he was gone too soon, for 19 off 16 balls.

Foxcroft then suffered the unnecessary ignominy of a duck upon his much anticipated return to the team, after he was also rapped on the pads by Shakib. 

Replays showed the ball was not hitting in line, but Foxcroft had walked without reviewing: 30/0 became 30/2 in the fifth over.

Captain Bruce top-scored with 34, but the natural strokemaker was forced to anchor as the Capitals took control with regular wickets. 

The New Zealand Super Smash champions finished 22 runs short at 143/8, and now get ready to face home side the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday morning (NZT), this time under lights. 

That now shapes as a big game, with BBL champion the Hobart Hurricanes and Bangladesh’s strong Rangpur Riders to follow if they are to make the top two that progress to Saturday’s lucrative Final.

Teams in the Global Super League receive US$25,000 (NZ$41,200) for each win in the rapid fire group stage, with a further US$250,000 if they make the final and lose, and US$500,000 (NZ$824,000) if they win the July 19 Final.

SHORT SCORECARD

ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (T20)

Game One: Central Stags v Dubai Capitals

10 July 2025, Guyana National Stadium, Providence, Guyana 

Dubai Capitals 165/7 (Shakib 58*, Atal 41; Angus Schaw 3/27, Blair Tickner 2/27, Dean Foxcroft 1/23) beat Central Stags 143/8 (Tom Bruce 34; Shakib 4/13) by 22 runs

FULL SCORECARD 

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Article added: Friday 11 July 2025