Forde holds his nerve as Kings survive Falcons in CPL thriller

With 13 runs required from the final over, the Caribbean Premier League contest between the St Lucia Kings and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons had reached the kind of finish where composure matters more than reputation.

Not long before, the Falcons had appeared firmly in control. By the final over, however, it was anybody’s game to win.

The pressure was immense. Somebody had to execute. Somebody had to crack.

Matthew Forde did neither.

The Kings fast bowler conceded only eight runs in the decisive over, shutting down the Falcons’ late charge and securing a four-run victory for St Lucia in a gripping CPL 2026 encounter in Kingstown on Sunday night.

Fabian Allen threatened to turn the match around, striking a six and a four from Shadley van Schalkwyk in the 19th over. But Allen faced only two balls in the final over, while Jahmar Hamilton, who had shared the strike with him during the first half of that over, could manage only 10 from 20 balls during a critical stage of the chase.

Forde made sure the opportunity never returned.

Gous gives Kings the foundation

The victory was built much earlier, with Player of the Match Andries Gous producing an innings of remarkable control.

After Roston Chase chose to bat first, Gous immediately took responsibility for the Kings’ innings and remained the dominant figure from the opening delivery until midway through the 18th over.

His 82 from 51 balls provided the stability and acceleration St Lucia needed despite a lack of substantial contributions elsewhere.

Ackeem Auguste was the next-highest scorer with only 18 from 20 balls at No. 3, while the Falcons’ bowlers generally did enough to keep taking wickets.

Alzarri Joseph was particularly effective, finishing with 3 for 32 after claiming 3 for 34 in the opening game.

Yet even when wickets fell around him, Gous refused to allow Antigua and Barbuda to seize complete control.

His innings ensured the Kings maintained enough momentum to post 187 and put the Falcons under pressure from the start of their chase.

Lewis launches the pursuit

The Falcons’ response began at full speed.

Evin Lewis and Rahkeem Cornwall raced past 30 inside the first three overs, immediately suggesting that a successful chase of 188 could be within reach.

Cornwall departed soon afterward, becoming the first of two victims for Maheesh Theekshana.

Lewis, however, continued to attack.

His aggression carried the Falcons to 65 during the powerplay and helped them reach 109 by the halfway point. Theekshana struck again during that period, but Antigua and Barbuda remained firmly in contention.

The Kings needed something to disrupt the chase.

Joshua Bishop provided it in the 11th over.

Spin changes the course

Lewis had looked capable of carrying the Falcons deep into the chase, but Bishop removed him for a brisk 42 from 24 deliveries.

That dismissal altered the complexion of the contest.

Roston Chase then joined the attack, dismissing Karima Gore and Tajinder Singh as the Kings' spinners and all-rounders began steadily tightening the screws.

After 16 overs, the Falcons were 145 for 5, leaving them 43 runs from victory with four overs remaining.

The equation was still manageable.

The momentum, however, had shifted.

The 17th over yielded only four runs, and the 18th produced nine. Suddenly, Antigua and Barbuda needed a major late surge.

Allen supplied it.

Allen brings the Falcons back to life

With the match slipping toward St Lucia, Allen exploded in the 19th over.

He struck van Schalkwyk for a six and a four, transforming the equation and setting up a dramatic final over.

The Falcons needed 13.

At that point, the contest could genuinely have gone either way.

The Kings needed a bowler who could absorb the pressure.

They had Forde.

He conceded only eight runs, refusing to provide the boundary that would have swung the match back toward the chasing side.

The Falcons finished four runs short.

Kings rewarded for their composure

The result was a striking example of how quickly a T20 match can change.

For long stretches, Antigua and Barbuda appeared to have the chase under control. Lewis had provided the explosive start and the Falcons had reached 109 by the halfway stage.

But St Lucia gradually reclaimed the initiative through disciplined spin, timely wickets and, finally, Forde’s composure under maximum pressure.

Gous had built the platform.

Bishop and Chase helped dismantle the chase.

Allen briefly revived the Falcons.

And Forde delivered the final blow.

When the last over ended, the Kings had done just enough to emerge with a four-run victory, a result that had looked anything but certain only a few overs earlier.