125/10 (18.0)
CR : 6.94
155/5 (20.0)
CR : 7.75
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons won by 30 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Joshua James
3/18
Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers, taking two for 32. Daniel Sams, Gudakesh Motie and Ramon Simmonds all chipped in with a wicket each to restrict the Falcons to 155/5 in 20 overs.
Earlier in the game, Chris Green won the toss and opted to bowl first. Daniel Sams got them off to a fine start, removing Rahkeem Cornwall on the first ball of the match. However, a partnership of 39 runs between Karima Gore and Amir Jangoo helped them rebuild. It was an innings of two halves from the Falcons. In the first 10 overs, they struggled to time the ball but Moeen Ali led from the front, scoring an unbeaten half-century. He was not out on 56 off 37. Shamar Springer gave him good company, remaining not out on 19 off 16.
8:04 AM IST, 10:34 PM Local Time: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons put on a clinical show with the ball to bowl out Barbados Tridents for 125 and secure a 30-run win. They sign off from Antigua with a thumping victory and give the home crowd plenty to cheer about. As for the Tridents, they have played four games fewer than the Falcons and have plenty of games in hand to bounce back.
Player of the Match: Joshua James
Joshua James (POTM): "[Moeen Ali's instructions when he was given the ball] It was just to start it simple, use the bigger side of the ground, use the variations, and hopefully that worked here.
[Favourite wicket out of the three he picked?] I would say Rutherford. I know he’s a very dangerous man, and to get him in the first ball, very, very special for me.
[Secret to his success] I think just the consistency, plenty of spot bowling, knowing where I want to pitch the ball, and using the variations right.
[A message to the fans in Antigua] I would like to thank all the Falcon fans here for coming out for the past four days, supporting us. The energy was tremendous, and I hope to see you all again next time."
[Favourite wicket out of the three he picked?] I would say Rutherford. I know he’s a very dangerous man, and to get him in the first ball, very, very special for me.
[Secret to his success] I think just the consistency, plenty of spot bowling, knowing where I want to pitch the ball, and using the variations right.
[A message to the fans in Antigua] I would like to thank all the Falcon fans here for coming out for the past four days, supporting us. The energy was tremendous, and I hope to see you all again next time."
Chris Green (Barbados Tridents Captain): "[How ] I think for the most part of that game we played a really good game of cricket, and we just sort of lost our way. The two young players, Clarke and Anderson, I thought their partnership was really impressive, got us to a really nice platform, and then to me after that catch, I don’t know how for one that was out, but after that catch that seemed the moment where they were able to gather momentum and take it on their side, and for us it just felt like we panicked a little bit and that gave the game away.
[Thoughts at the halfway stage] I thought the way we all bowled, all five bowlers did a fantastic job. I think it’s arguably one of our best fielding efforts as well, and we felt, particularly after that rain delay, the wicket was sliding on, and 150, you know, Moeen batted really well at the back end to get him up to that score, but we sort of felt it was probably just below par, and we were in a good position to chase it.
[On the batting collapse] I think that’s the key word, is learning, going through the mindset of how they felt out there, what their thinking was. Like I said, that partnership, those guys were really impressive playing their options, and then from there on in, when we lost those wickets, it just seemed like it unravelled and guys went away from their game. You know, the crowd got noisier, the bowlers got really, really good, and we unravelled and gave the game away, and that’s probably the disappointment for me. Full credit to Antigua, but I really felt like we gave that game away.
[This game exposed any weakness] Definitely not. In T20 cricket, you’re going to play good games, you’re going to play bad games. Sometimes you win those bad games, sometimes you lose those good games. It’s a matter of fine margins. We’ve had a long break, we played three games now, we’ve got seven to go. We’re still in a really good position, but I think your key word there is learning, and we are a young side, and we’ve got to keep learning. We’ve been playing some good cricket, we’ve had some good wins, and I look forward to the next challenge in Trinidad in a couple of days’ time."
[Thoughts at the halfway stage] I thought the way we all bowled, all five bowlers did a fantastic job. I think it’s arguably one of our best fielding efforts as well, and we felt, particularly after that rain delay, the wicket was sliding on, and 150, you know, Moeen batted really well at the back end to get him up to that score, but we sort of felt it was probably just below par, and we were in a good position to chase it.
[On the batting collapse] I think that’s the key word, is learning, going through the mindset of how they felt out there, what their thinking was. Like I said, that partnership, those guys were really impressive playing their options, and then from there on in, when we lost those wickets, it just seemed like it unravelled and guys went away from their game. You know, the crowd got noisier, the bowlers got really, really good, and we unravelled and gave the game away, and that’s probably the disappointment for me. Full credit to Antigua, but I really felt like we gave that game away.
[This game exposed any weakness] Definitely not. In T20 cricket, you’re going to play good games, you’re going to play bad games. Sometimes you win those bad games, sometimes you lose those good games. It’s a matter of fine margins. We’ve had a long break, we played three games now, we’ve got seven to go. We’re still in a really good position, but I think your key word there is learning, and we are a young side, and we’ve got to keep learning. We’ve been playing some good cricket, we’ve had some good wins, and I look forward to the next challenge in Trinidad in a couple of days’ time."
Moeen Ali (Antigua & Barbuda Falcons Captain): "[What does this win mean to you?] Brilliant win. I thought we were obviously a little bit short. We were struggling a bit with the bat, but I think the pleasing thing is it’s the first time a team has defended here, and I thought we just used the conditions beautifully today. We stuck in there, two wrist spinners always helps, and our seamers were outstanding.
[On his partnership with Shamar Springer] Just stay in the game, be positive still, but play good shots, good cricketing shots until we have to go and press the button. No, he’s a quality all-rounder. Today, unfortunately, he didn’t bowl, but he’s great to have in the team. The great thing is we do bat deep, and someone like him coming in at seven today was crucial for us.
[Did he had the belief at the halfway stage?] It’s a sort of momentum and all that kind of stuff people talk about at the back end of the innings. I thought we just got a good… The last over obviously took us a little bit further than we would have probably had. So it was great to have that sort of momentum. We got two early wickets, Alzzari bowled brilliantly, and yeah, we just nailed our plans today.
[On the fielding] Amazing. I mean, for somebody to come on and not play the games and then take a catch like that, such a big wicket. It’s all about making an impact, even if you’re not playing sometimes, and that’s what he (Anderson Phillip) did today. Half of my catch that I dropped, I went in the lights, but no, we fielded well. That was probably our best fielding performance today.
[Message to the fans] Yeah, thank you very much. It’s been amazing to have you guys and to play in front of you guys. Today in particular, the atmosphere was electric and amazing, and we’re just pretty happy that we could perform in front of you guys and your support was, you know, better than anything that we could have asked for."
[On his partnership with Shamar Springer] Just stay in the game, be positive still, but play good shots, good cricketing shots until we have to go and press the button. No, he’s a quality all-rounder. Today, unfortunately, he didn’t bowl, but he’s great to have in the team. The great thing is we do bat deep, and someone like him coming in at seven today was crucial for us.
[Did he had the belief at the halfway stage?] It’s a sort of momentum and all that kind of stuff people talk about at the back end of the innings. I thought we just got a good… The last over obviously took us a little bit further than we would have probably had. So it was great to have that sort of momentum. We got two early wickets, Alzzari bowled brilliantly, and yeah, we just nailed our plans today.
[On the fielding] Amazing. I mean, for somebody to come on and not play the games and then take a catch like that, such a big wicket. It’s all about making an impact, even if you’re not playing sometimes, and that’s what he (Anderson Phillip) did today. Half of my catch that I dropped, I went in the lights, but no, we fielded well. That was probably our best fielding performance today.
[Message to the fans] Yeah, thank you very much. It’s been amazing to have you guys and to play in front of you guys. Today in particular, the atmosphere was electric and amazing, and we’re just pretty happy that we could perform in front of you guys and your support was, you know, better than anything that we could have asked for."
It was an emphatic show by the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons as they signed off from their home turf with an impressive 30-run win over the Barbados Tridents. Moeen Ali led the way with the bat, scoring an unbeaten half-century, before the bowlers clicked in unison to brush aside the Tridents.
The Antigua leg is over in CPL 2026 and the hosts have won three out of four games at home. With tonight's win, the Falcons go to the top of the points table.
That's all we have for you from this fixture. Switch tabs to follow more cricketing action from around the globe. For now, this is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleague Bishal Mandal. Goodbye!!!