GROS ISLET – The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ tough inaugural season in the Caribbean Premier League continued with a 26-run defeat to the St Lucia Kings at the Daren Sammy National Stadium on Sunday.
After opting to bowl first, the Falcons’ bowling attack, led by off-spinner Chris Green and medium-pacer Shamar Springer, held the Kings to a modest total of 152 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. However, the Falcons failed to deliver with the bat, managing only 126 for eight in their reply, with Khary Pierre’s lethal spell of spin dismantling the top order.
The loss marked the Falcons’ sixth defeat in eight games, leaving them stuck in fifth place on the CPL standings with just four points, ahead of the last-placed St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who have two. In contrast, the victory lifted the Kings to second place, equal on points with the Barbados Royals but trailing on net run rate.
A steady start
The Kings’ innings got off to a steady start with Johnson Charles and captain Faf du Plessis adding 40 runs for the first wicket. Springer struck the initial blow, removing Charles for 25 off 20 balls, and moments later, Green removed du Plessis for 14, thanks to a stunning catch by Roshon Primus at extra cover. Green struck again with his next delivery, sending Roston Chase back to the pavilion as the Kings slumped to 42 for three inside six overs.
Ackeem Auguste (35) and Tim Seifert (13) rebuilt the innings with a 42-run stand before Green claimed his fourth wicket by dismissing Seifert, leaving the Kings wobbling at 87 for five. Kofi James further dented the hosts’ progress by removing Bhanuka Rajapaksa for a mere one run.
However, David Wiese played a vital knock, smashing an unbeaten 43 from 26 deliveries, including four sixes and one four. Wiese’s late assault, which included taking 20 runs from the final over off Kelvin Pitman, lifted the Kings to a competitive total.
Green finished with impressive figures of 4-22 from his four overs, while Springer took 3-19 from three overs.
Falcons’ innings never got going
In pursuit of a manageable target, the Falcons’ innings never got going, with Player-of-the-Match Pierre leading the charge for the Kings. Kofi James struck a six and a four in his brief cameo of 11, but Pierre had him edging to the keeper. Pierre then accounted for Sam Billings, who miscued a pull shot to short midwicket, and delivered a beauty to dismiss Jahmar Hamilton for a duck, leaving the Falcons teetering at 24 for three.
Matters worsened for the visitors when Justin Greaves was bowled by Noor Ahmad for 10, and Imad Wasim followed without scoring, falling to Chase as the Falcons crumbled to 28 for five.
Springer and Green, the bowling standouts, tried to salvage the chase with a 60-run stand for the sixth wicket. But when Springer was run out for 23 in the 16th over, any remaining hopes of a comeback were dashed. Green topscored for the Falcons with 48 off 37 balls, but it wasn’t enough to save the innings.
Pierre ended with 3-24 from his four overs, with Ahmad providing valuable support with 2-13.
