Falcons soar to CPL summit as bowlers crush Tridents’ chase
Key Points(5)
- The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons seized control of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) standings Tuesday, turning a precarious position with the bat into a commanding 30-run victory over the Barbados Tridents.
- The Falcons appeared to be heading for a modest total after collapsing to 80 for five, but captain Moeen Ali and Shamar Springer produced the rescue act the home side desperately needed.
- Their unbroken 75-run partnership lifted Antigua and Barbuda to 155 for five from its 20 overs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
- Then came the real assault.
- The Tridents were cruising at 93 for three and appeared on course for a third consecutive victory before the Falcons’ attack ripped the game away from them.
The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons seized control of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) standings Tuesday, turning a precarious position with the bat into a commanding 30-run victory over the Barbados Tridents.
The Falcons appeared to be heading for a modest total after collapsing to 80 for five, but captain Moeen Ali and Shamar Springer produced the rescue act the home side desperately needed. Their unbroken 75-run partnership lifted Antigua and Barbuda to 155 for five from its 20 overs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Then came the real assault.
The Tridents were cruising at 93 for three and appeared on course for a third consecutive victory before the Falcons’ attack ripped the game away from them. Joshua James, Shadab Khan and Sufyan Moqim combined to destroy the Barbados middle and lower order, with the visitors eventually bowled out for 125 in 18 overs.
The victory was Antigua and Barbuda’s fourth in seven matches and moved the Falcons to eight points, two clear of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Kings.
James ignites the collapse
For much of the chase, Barbados looked firmly in control.
Alzarri Joseph had given the Falcons an early opening, dismissing debutant Shian Brathwaite for seven and Zachary Carter for a brisk 17 from 10 deliveries. Rahkeem Cornwall then removed the dangerous Quinton de Kock for 16, leaving the Tridents at 54 for three in the eighth over.
But Rivaldo Clarke and Kevlon Anderson restored momentum with a 39-run stand. At 93 for three, Barbados had transformed itself from a team under pressure into the favorite to complete the chase.
James had other ideas.
The Player-of-the-Match struck when he had Anderson spectacularly caught by a diving Springer at deep midwicket for 22, ending the partnership.
And he needed only one more delivery to strike again.
James tempted Sherfane Rutherford into pulling a short ball, only for Anderson Phillip to complete an excellent catch at deep fine leg. Suddenly, the Tridents were five down for 93.
Shadab Khan then joined the destruction.
He had Clarke caught at deep midwicket for 27 from 26 balls and, two deliveries later, dismissed Gudakesh Motie, caught by Jayden Seales at long-on.
The Tridents had plunged to 95 for seven, and the chase was effectively over.
James and Moqim finished the job in rapid fashion, wrapping up the tail and sealing Barbados’ first defeat of the tournament.
James led the way with 3-18, while Joseph claimed 2-12, Shadab took 2-23 and Moqim finished with 2-36.
Moeen’s rescue mission
The Falcons’ victory had seemed anything but inevitable when their own innings began.
Daniel Sams struck with the first ball of the match, producing a superb yorker to bowl Cornwall and immediately putting Antigua and Barbuda on the back foot.
Amir Jangoo and Karima Gore steadied the innings with a 39-run second-wicket partnership, but Mujeeb Ur Rahman broke through by bowling Gore for 27.
The pressure intensified.
Ramon Simmonds removed Hasan Nawaz for seven before Motie rattled Jangoo’s stumps for 26. Mujeeb then held a return catch to dismiss Shadab Khan for seven, leaving the Falcons struggling at 80 for five in the 14th over.
That was when Moeen took charge.
The captain combined with Springer for an unbeaten 75-run stand from just 41 balls, transforming an innings in danger of stalling into a total the Falcons’ bowlers could defend.
Moeen remained unbeaten on 56 from 37 deliveries, striking four sixes and three fours, while Springer contributed an unbeaten 19 from 16 balls.
A captain’s finishing touch
Moeen saved his most emphatic statement for the final over.
With Sams returning to bowl the 20th, the Falcons captain launched three consecutive deliveries over the boundary for six.
The onslaught not only pushed Antigua and Barbuda beyond the 150 mark but also completed Moeen’s half-century, which came from 34 balls.
The Falcons had gone from 80 for five to 155 for five.
The Tridents never recovered from that late surge.
Mujeeb was Barbados’ most effective bowler, finishing with 2-32, but it was the Falcons’ dramatic recovery with the bat, and an even more ruthless response with the ball, that ultimately decided the contest.
Antigua and Barbuda now sit atop the CPL standings, having turned a game that once appeared to be slipping away into a decisive statement of intent.
