Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua – The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons clinched a much-needed victory in a nail-biting contest, defeating the Trinbago Knight Riders by 6 runs in the 8th match of CPL 2024. Fabian Allen was the star of the show, delivering with both bat and ball to guide his team to their first win of the season.
Falcons Set a Competitive Target of 176/6
Opting to bat first, the Falcons got off to a strong start with Fakhar Zaman (38 off 26) and Justin Greaves (37 off 19) putting on a 65-run opening partnership. The middle order capitalized on the strong start, with Imad Wasim contributing a vital 46 off 29 balls. Fabian Allen then added a late surge with an unbeaten 25 off just 11 balls, propelling the Falcons to a competitive total of 176/6.
For the Trinbago Knight Riders, Waqar Salamkheil and Sunil Narine were the standout bowlers, each taking two wickets, but the rest of the attack struggled to contain the Falcons’ power hitters.
Trinbago Knight Riders Fall Short in the Chase
The Knight Riders’ chase began poorly as they lost Sunil Narine for a duck. Andries Gous (39 off 33) and Shaqkere Parris (31 off 28) attempted to rebuild the innings, but the Falcons’ bowlers kept the pressure on. Fabian Allen was brilliant with the ball, taking key wickets at crucial moments, including the dismissals of Gous, Parris, and Nicholas Pooran.
Kieron Pollard threatened to swing the game in Trinbago’s favor with a brisk 30 off 15 balls, but his dismissal in the 17th over turned the tide. Despite a late attempt by Akeal Hosein (11 off 6), the Knight Riders could only manage 170/9, falling 6 runs short.
Brief Scores:
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons: 176/6 (Imad Wasim 46, Fakhar Zaman 38, Waqar Salamkheil 2/27)
Trinbago Knight Riders: 170/9 (Andries Gous 39, Fabian Allen 3/23)
Result: Falcons won by 6 runs
Player of the Match: Fabian Allen (25* off 11, 3/23 & 2 catches)
Post-Match Reactions:
Chris Green, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons captain: “We’ve had a tough time here at home, but I’m proud of the character the boys showed today. Our positive and aggressive brand of cricket is paying off, and we’ll continue to apply that mindset for the rest of the games.”
Kieron Pollard, Trinbago Knight Riders captain: “It was a good game of cricket, but we let ourselves down a bit. Parris showed great character, and it’s important to give emerging players opportunities. We’ll take a couple of days off and get ready for the games ahead in Trinidad.”
Fabian Allen, Player of the Match: “We were searching for that win, and I’m grateful we got it tonight. Whether it’s batting higher or bowling, I’ll do whatever the team needs. The crowd was fantastic, and I’m grateful for their support.”
This thrilling victory revitalizes the Falcons’ campaign, while the Knight Riders will look to regroup as they head to Trinidad for the next leg of the tournament.
