125/4 (15.0)
CR : 8.33
121/10 (17.1)
CR : 7.05
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots won by 6 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Waqar Salamkheil
4/22
SKNP won by 6 wickets
7:31 AM IST & 10:01 PM Local Time: Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots start their campaign with a win under a new captain — Jason Holder. They hammer Antigua & Barbuda Falcons by six wickets and five overs to spare. Waqar Salamkheil set it with a four-fer and then runs from the bats of Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher and Alick Athanaze took them over the line. This is the first time in 3 seasons that they have won at home.
Earlier in the game, Jason Holder won the toss and opted to bowl first. His bowlers responded well to the decision and knocked over Antigua & Barbuda Falcons for 121 runs.
Jewel Andrew bagged a duck and Rahkeem Cornwall fell for 3. Karima Gore, making his debut in CPL, scored a quick-fire fifty. He made 61 off 34. There was hardly any other notable contribution from the middle order. Fabian Allen (12), Imad Wasim (11), Shakib Al Hasan (11) and Obed McCoy (10) got to double figures.
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons failed to bat their full quota of 20 overs and were bowled out in 17.1 overs.
Waqar Salamkheil was the pick of the bowlers, taking four for 22 from his four overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naseem Shah both took two wickets apiece. Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder chipped in with a wicket each.
In reply, Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher got the team off to a solid start as they added 36 runs for the first wicket.
Fletcher struggled for timing for the majority of his innings and perished for 19 off 26. Kyle Mayers made 15 off 8 before losing his wicket. Rilee Rossouw bagged a two-ball duck.
At the halfway stage, Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots were 76/4. They needed 46 off the last 10 overs. Jason Holder and Alick Athanaze took them over the line with five overs to spare.
Earlier in the game, Jason Holder won the toss and opted to bowl first. His bowlers responded well to the decision and knocked over Antigua & Barbuda Falcons for 121 runs.
Jewel Andrew bagged a duck and Rahkeem Cornwall fell for 3. Karima Gore, making his debut in CPL, scored a quick-fire fifty. He made 61 off 34. There was hardly any other notable contribution from the middle order. Fabian Allen (12), Imad Wasim (11), Shakib Al Hasan (11) and Obed McCoy (10) got to double figures.
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons failed to bat their full quota of 20 overs and were bowled out in 17.1 overs.
Waqar Salamkheil was the pick of the bowlers, taking four for 22 from his four overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naseem Shah both took two wickets apiece. Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder chipped in with a wicket each.
In reply, Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher got the team off to a solid start as they added 36 runs for the first wicket.
Fletcher struggled for timing for the majority of his innings and perished for 19 off 26. Kyle Mayers made 15 off 8 before losing his wicket. Rilee Rossouw bagged a two-ball duck.
At the halfway stage, Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots were 76/4. They needed 46 off the last 10 overs. Jason Holder and Alick Athanaze took them over the line with five overs to spare.
Waqar Salamkheil has been named as the 'Player of the Match'.
Waqar Salamkheil (Player of the Match): "Today is my first match for St Kitts, very happy that I did well and we won the game. The wickets support me a lot, that's why I am doing well. (About having Fazalhaq Farooqi and other Asian players around) They are like my brothers (laughs)."
Time for the post-match presentation...
Imad Wasim (Antigua & Barbuda Falcons Captain): "I think when the match started, we thought 160-170 was a good score. But we played bad shots and didn't get the partnerships, that cost us.
It was always going to spin. But some of the shots we played were unacceptable. Hopefully, if the wickets are like these, we will bring in a lot of spin.
We bowled really best. We tried our best. At one point, they were 76 for four. Things could have turned around if we had picked up two more wickets. So, I think the bowling side, pretty happy about it.
Look, it is just a game of cricket. I am really honoured. My last 3-4 years remaining. Falcons, I played for them last year. Hopefully, we will do well. It is just the beginning of the tournament.
(Message to fans) Please do come and support us. I know the first game didn't go our way but we will do better."
It was always going to spin. But some of the shots we played were unacceptable. Hopefully, if the wickets are like these, we will bring in a lot of spin.
We bowled really best. We tried our best. At one point, they were 76 for four. Things could have turned around if we had picked up two more wickets. So, I think the bowling side, pretty happy about it.
Look, it is just a game of cricket. I am really honoured. My last 3-4 years remaining. Falcons, I played for them last year. Hopefully, we will do well. It is just the beginning of the tournament.
(Message to fans) Please do come and support us. I know the first game didn't go our way but we will do better."
Jason Holder (Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots Captain): "I thought the bowlers were outstanding. We got wickets up front and we got wickets throughout the innings. Credit to Waqar, he picked up four wickets which is always crucial in T20 cricket. Happy the way we started, just want to build from here.
It makes life easy. I just told the boys it is important not to get too high or too low in this competition. We have to be consistent to go deep in the tournament.
The past is history. It is important for us to not dwell in the past. We have to create our own legacy. We got a new group, new leader, new management. We have to build on this, make something special of it and it is in our hands to determine how far we go in the tournament.
Fletcher is Fletcher, he brings in a lot of energy in the change room. I love playing with him. Hopefully, he keeps on entertaining throughout the tournament.
Look, we just want the support. It is just one game, I just hope they come to support us again and then be back for the last three home games."
It makes life easy. I just told the boys it is important not to get too high or too low in this competition. We have to be consistent to go deep in the tournament.
The past is history. It is important for us to not dwell in the past. We have to create our own legacy. We got a new group, new leader, new management. We have to build on this, make something special of it and it is in our hands to determine how far we go in the tournament.
Fletcher is Fletcher, he brings in a lot of energy in the change room. I love playing with him. Hopefully, he keeps on entertaining throughout the tournament.
Look, we just want the support. It is just one game, I just hope they come to support us again and then be back for the last three home games."
Biggest Wins for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in CPL (by Balls Remaining)
78 balls vs Barbados Tridents, Bridgetown, 2017
74 balls vs St Lucia Stars, Gros Islet, 2018
32 balls vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Basseterre, 2021
31 balls vs St Lucia Zouks, Basseterre, 2019
30 balls vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, 2025, TONIGHT
78 balls vs Barbados Tridents, Bridgetown, 2017
74 balls vs St Lucia Stars, Gros Islet, 2018
32 balls vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Basseterre, 2021
31 balls vs St Lucia Zouks, Basseterre, 2019
30 balls vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, 2025, TONIGHT
So, that is it from myself, Karthik Raj, my co-commentator, Ajay and our scorer for this match, Raju Khariya. Do stay to our coverage and join us for other matches later today.