Imran Tahir led Guyana Amazon Warriors to the Global Super League 2026 title with a memorable victory over San Francisco Unicorns in the final at Providence Stadium. The defending champions retained their crown after securing a thrilling six-run win despite posting only 85 runs on the board.
Guyana Amazon Warriors produced one of the greatest bowling displays in T20 final history by defending just 85 runs on Saturday, August 1 (Local). San Francisco Unicorns fought hard during the chase but were bowled out for 79 runs. The home side successfully defended their title in the low-scoring thriller.
Matthew Forde and Dwaine Pretorius Rescue Guyana Amazon Warriors
Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir won the toss and chose to bat. However, the decision backfired as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Johnson Charles perished within three deliveries. Shimron Hetmyer and Mohammad Haris also departed cheaply, leaving the hosts struggling at 23/4 inside the powerplay.
The collapse continued after the fielding restrictions ended as San Francisco Unicorns kept striking at regular intervals. Guyana Amazon Warriors slipped to 29/8 in just 8.5 overs.
Matthew Forde and Dwaine Pretorius then produced a remarkable rescue act. The pair added 41 runs for the ninth wicket to lift their side out of trouble. Forde top-scored with 28 off 23 balls, while Pretorius made a determined 17 off 30 deliveries as the Warriors were bowled out for 85 in 18.5 overs.
San Francisco Unicorns Suffer Dramatic Collapse
Chasing 86, San Francisco Unicorns lost both openers inside the second over with just six runs on the board. Oliver Peake steadied the innings with captain Hassan Khan in a 22-run stand before adding another 25 runs with Sanjay Krishnamurthi for the fourth wicket.
The Unicorns crossed 50 in the 10th over with only three wickets down and looked on course for victory. However, Guyana Amazon Warriors produced a stunning fightback as the Unicorns collapsed from 53/3 to 58/8.
Fabian Allen and Peter Siddle kept the chase alive with a 14-run ninth-wicket partnership. Pretorius broke the stand by dismissing Allen for six, while Siddle hit a crucial six in the 18th over to keep the final alive until the closing stages.
Shimron Hetmyer produced a brilliant direct hit to run out Callum Stow for one in the 19th over. Imran Tahir lifted the Global Super League 2026 trophy and Guyana Amazon Warriors successfully defended their title.
Lowest Totals Successfully Defended in T20 Tournament Finals
| Team | Total | Opponent | Tournament | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guyana Amazon Warriors | 85 | San Francisco Unicorns | Global Super League | 2026 |
| Sydney Sixers | 116/5 | Melbourne Stars | BBL | 2020 |
| Maharashtra | 119 | Hyderabad | SMAT | 2010 |
| Mumbai Indians | 129/8 | Rising Pune Supergiant | IPL | 2017 |
| Eagles | 131/6 | Eastern Cape | Pro20 Series | 2004 |
"Look to be honest, we didn't have a great start to the Final. We obviously knew that it would be difficult to defend it. I told the boys to keep believing. Any other day, the other team could've chased it down easily. You need to have that belief in yourself in order to defend this score. I am really proud of my boys, who played like Warriors," Imran Tahir said after the win.
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