191/7 (19.3)
CR : 9.79
187/6 (20.0)
CR : 9.35
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons won by 3 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Shadab Khan
1/2230(12)
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons won the toss and elected to bowl first. The celebrated top 3 of Johnson Charles (17), Kyle Mayers (34) and Andre Fletcher (20) got starts but failed to capitalise. Jason Holder (27) and Nikhil Chaudhary (15) in the middle order too saw similar fates and the Patriots were in a spot of bother at 126/5. It was Dasun Shanaka's late order heroics of 49* off just 17 balls that powered the Patriots to 187/6 in 20 overs. The pick of the bowlers for Falcons were Shamar Springer (2/42) and Shadab Khan (1/22).
8:18 AM IST, 10:48 PM Local Time: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons win by 3 wickets! The hosts win the first game they play at home this season. It has been a remarkable effort. At the halfway mark in the chase, they looked nowhere in the picture. However, the lower-middle order stepped up when it was required most. They found the crucial boundaries and, in the end, it was Captain Moeen Ali who fittingly hit the winning runs.
Player of the Match: Shadab Khan
Shadab Khan (POTM): "[On him playing a game as soon as he landed in Antigua] It is crazy. I played a game, we had a final, a List A final, I played a game and then traveled back to Islamabad, and then I had a long journey here. So I came around four-ish and I played a game. So I think I'm still in jet lag, so I'm not sure how to describe it.
[On the wind factor] I think when I was bowling as well, because I saw it's too much and very quick, I was trying to bowl on a wider line. So I knew as a bowler they would go on the wider side, and I was trying to hit it on the leg side more often than not.
[On his bowling] I think my line and length was impressive because, especially on these types of tracks, you need a consistent area to hit, and I think I varied the pace very well as well."
[On the wind factor] I think when I was bowling as well, because I saw it's too much and very quick, I was trying to bowl on a wider line. So I knew as a bowler they would go on the wider side, and I was trying to hit it on the leg side more often than not.
[On his bowling] I think my line and length was impressive because, especially on these types of tracks, you need a consistent area to hit, and I think I varied the pace very well as well."
Jason Holder (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Captain): "[On the close loss] I thought it was a good game. I thought the fellas hung in there as much as possible. I think Antigua did a good job in the run chase. They kept our spinners out of the game and made it difficult for our spinners to bowl. They also had left and right-hand combinations throughout the innings, which made it difficult for us, obviously as spinners, to hit the ball downwind. Though, I feel the effort with the bat was commendable. Just a matter of us to stick together a little better.
[On his rotation of the bowlers] Yeah, as I said, Antigua did really well to keep our spinners out of the game. Hasaranga came on to bowl and was put under pressure from the very first over. Obviously Waqar had a very good spell from the other end, but I still needed a wicket-taker in the backend. For me, I just tried to stretch the game as deep as I could with the seamers I had. I think that each seamer came and put in a really good effort. However, on a ground like this, it is pretty hard to contain when the wind is set.
[What can the team do better?] A lot of positives. It is just about picking ourselves up. It is not the ideal situation for us. We have our home leg coming up and that is very crucial for us. A lot of games left in the competition for us. It is a matter for us to do the small things right from here on.
[Messaging to the team from here on] There is only one way to go. We cannot put our heads down. We need to put our heads together and come up with solutions. As I said before, there are a lot of positives. We are coming together as a group, but we just have not been able to get over the line in close games. As I look back at it, we had some close encounters, we could have gotten over the line, but we didn't. For us, we just need to hang in there, stay tight, and ensure that when we get to St Kitts, we don't repeat the same mistakes."
[On his rotation of the bowlers] Yeah, as I said, Antigua did really well to keep our spinners out of the game. Hasaranga came on to bowl and was put under pressure from the very first over. Obviously Waqar had a very good spell from the other end, but I still needed a wicket-taker in the backend. For me, I just tried to stretch the game as deep as I could with the seamers I had. I think that each seamer came and put in a really good effort. However, on a ground like this, it is pretty hard to contain when the wind is set.
[What can the team do better?] A lot of positives. It is just about picking ourselves up. It is not the ideal situation for us. We have our home leg coming up and that is very crucial for us. A lot of games left in the competition for us. It is a matter for us to do the small things right from here on.
[Messaging to the team from here on] There is only one way to go. We cannot put our heads down. We need to put our heads together and come up with solutions. As I said before, there are a lot of positives. We are coming together as a group, but we just have not been able to get over the line in close games. As I look back at it, we had some close encounters, we could have gotten over the line, but we didn't. For us, we just need to hang in there, stay tight, and ensure that when we get to St Kitts, we don't repeat the same mistakes."
Moeen Ali (Antigua & Barbuda Falcons Captain): "[What pleased him the most?] Just the fact that we batted well. We played the extra batter for that reason because we were struggling a little bit with the bat. The partnership between Evin Lewis and Hasan Nawaz was excellent. Shadab, the way he came in and played, made a massive impact. Getting a victory and getting over the line brings confidence for the boys, so yeah, very happy.
[Batting order and tactics] Just to play good shots. We probably lost a couple early, but the guys showed that once you stay at the wicket and get in, it's quite nice to play here with the wind as well. It was a good cricket wicket. I just thought the fact we stayed in the game, never panicked, didn't go too hard too early, and we were quite smart.
[On the conditions] No, we thought about a lot of things. Obviously, the wind is a big factor here, even if it's not here all the time. With the ball, we can be better at the end in particular, but I thought we bowled well generally to keep them quiet until probably the last four or five overs. It's something we're working on.
[On starting the home leg with a win] Yeah, amazing win. We want to make this a fortress while we're here. We've got four or five games, whatever it is, and we want to make it hard to beat us here to give us an advantage going forward. Amazing crowd, and hopefully we get some more over the weekend."
[Batting order and tactics] Just to play good shots. We probably lost a couple early, but the guys showed that once you stay at the wicket and get in, it's quite nice to play here with the wind as well. It was a good cricket wicket. I just thought the fact we stayed in the game, never panicked, didn't go too hard too early, and we were quite smart.
[On the conditions] No, we thought about a lot of things. Obviously, the wind is a big factor here, even if it's not here all the time. With the ball, we can be better at the end in particular, but I thought we bowled well generally to keep them quiet until probably the last four or five overs. It's something we're working on.
[On starting the home leg with a win] Yeah, amazing win. We want to make this a fortress while we're here. We've got four or five games, whatever it is, and we want to make it hard to beat us here to give us an advantage going forward. Amazing crowd, and hopefully we get some more over the weekend."
Highest Run Chases in CPL at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
191/7 - Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, 2026 (TONIGHT)* [T - 188]
171/7 - Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, 2024 [T-169]
173/5 - Barbados Royals vs Antigua Hawks, 2014 [T-173]
191/7 - Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, 2026 (TONIGHT)* [T - 188]
171/7 - Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, 2024 [T-169]
173/5 - Barbados Royals vs Antigua Hawks, 2014 [T-173]
Another day of entertainment at the CPL. For a change, the rain did not intervene and add breaks. That allowed the cricket to take center stage, and it did that in style. The Falcons start on a fine note at home. The Patriots are still struggling to find a method to win games away from home. They will be happy to head home now and hopefully use the conditions to their advantage.
The action once again moves to St Lucia tomorrow. The St Lucia Kings take on the Jamaica Kingsmen at 4:30 AM IST on 22nd August (7 PM Local Time, 21st August). Do join us on time for the live coverage of the game.
On this note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Ajay Pal Singh and Bishal Mandal. Stay Happy. Stay Healthy. Stay Safe. See you!!!