The Central Stags saved their best for last in Guyana on Friday, rolling the Global Super League’s defending champion, the Rangpur Riders from Bangladesh, for just 79 in 13.5 overs.

That was the record low total in the two-year-old T20 league, but rain sadly washed away the Stags’ golden opportunity to chase that down for a second win at the tournament.

The match had been delayed by 45 minutes and had been twice reduced by scudding stormclouds — first to 17 overs per side, then to 14. 

When heavy rain set in again at the innings break, the covers came back on for good, and the Stags didn’t get to pocket their second T20 win abroad, after all.

A washout point elevated the Stags to third spot on the table all the same, the Kiwi Super Smash champs finishing ahead of both BBL champion the Hobart Hurricanes — whom they had defeated in the previous round; and the Dubai Capitals franchise. 

Rain denied the Stags | GSLT20 via Getty Images

The Riders were already inked in for the following day’s Final, and got to write off a tough day at the office against the Antipodean upstarts.

However, they went on to lose the title to hosts the Guyana Amazon Warriors the following evening.

The Stags can look back on their progression through the second edition of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League with pride.

It was their first experience as a team in such slow, sub-continent-like conditions and while it fatally took them a couple of matches to adjust with the bat, they bowled well and fielded sharply throughout, culminating in that brutal last rout of the Riders. 

Spinner Angus Schaw had taken a wicket with his first ball of the tournament.

Now he took a wicket second ball of the day, as he opened the Stags’ attack after Rangur captain Nurul Hasan had opted to bat.

Schaw went on to pocket his T20 career best figures of 3/13, and he took a difficult catch as well, running backwards to give spin twin Jayden Lennox his first victim at 15/2, in the fourth over.

All images | GSLT20 via Getty Images

Lennox’s first over had been a maiden — a rarity in T20s, and he finished with excellent figures of 3/6 off his 2.5 overs, taking the final two Bangladeshi wickets in the last over to clean up with a ball to spare.

Schaw’s tight three-for meanwhile saw him finish as one of the top wicket-takers overall in Guyana, and the best of the Stags. His nine wickets at a tight average of 10.77 ranked him in the top three bowlers at the Super League.

Pace pair Blair Tickner (3/17 off three) impressed as well, bowling to the conditions.

With his firece mix of aggression and pace-off deliveries, Tickner did some major damage after the lengthy rain interruption, bundling out Mahidul Islam Ankon, Iftikhar Ahmed and Hasan to put the Riders on notice at 66/6.

And 21-year-old Toby Findlay (below) enjoyed his only trot of the trip with 1/17 off his three overs, and also contributed a spectacular catch of his own, running backwards.

Star spinner Ajaz Patel meanwhile ran the drinks, having picked up a niggle after tidy work in the first three games. He now heads with Will Young to Zimbabwe for the BLACKCAPS' Test series.

“Unfortunately we were a little bit slow out of the box with the bat in this short tournament,” said opening batter Young.

“But we learn quickly, and it was awesome to get the win against the Hurricanes in our third game.”

Findlay, who played a key role in the Super Smash final earlier this year, was playing just the eighth T20 of his career.

“The decks were a bit slower over here and the bounce was a bit inconsistent, so it was harder for the batters to time it,” Findlay said.

But the team was proud of the way they improved every match.

“It was an awesome experience for us, and an awesome group to be a part of. 

“Everyone had each other’s back.”

Hosts the Guyana Amazon Warriors went on to lift the trophy for the first time, after beating top qualifier the Rangpur Riders by 32 runs in a high-scoring finale.

The Central Stags received US$25,000 (NZ$41,200) for their win against the Hurricanes.

The team arrives home in New Zealand on Tuesday morning. 

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Sunday 20 July 2025