By FRANCIS JOSEPH
It took two Trinidad and Tobago nationals to lead the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to a resounding eight-wicket win and to capture the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title for the first time on Sunday at Kensington Oval, Barbados.
Amir Jangoo with an unbeaten 57 and Evin Lewis with 38 ensured that the Falcons win with 20 balls to spare over the new franchise, the Jamaica Kingsmen.
Jangoo and Lewis were among several Trinidad and Tobago nationals lined up with the Falcons and how proud they were with their medals at the end. Not surprising, the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, was present to witness the victory.
Although the Guyana Amazon Warriors were knocked out in the eliminator, its President Irfaan Ali was present. So too was former St Vincent Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonzalves. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley was the perfect hostess on the night.
The Falcons, participating in only their third CPL season, successfully chased a target of 171 runs with 20 balls remaining, thanks to an unbeaten 89-run partnership between Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz.
Earlier in the match, Sufyan Moqim delivered a decisive bowling performance with figures of four for 14, restricting the Kingsmen to 170 for 9 despite Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat’s outstanding century. Sadaqat scored 114 runs off 58 balls, including nine sixes and eight fours, accounting for more than half of his team’s total. Saim Ayub’s contribution of 29 was the only other significant score for the Kingsmen.
It was the second century for Sadaqat in the CPL this year and the second at Kensington Oval.
The Kingsmen started strongly after losing Kirk McKenzie for a duck in the opening over and Keacy Carty for nine early in the innings. Sadaqat and Ayub then steadied the innings with an 80-run partnership, advancing the score from 30 for two to 110 for two.
However, Moqim turned the tide for the Falcons by taking two wickets in the 12th over, dismissing Ayub and Rovman Powell. The Kingsmen then suffered a collapse, losing four wickets in three overs from 110 for two to 113 for six, despite Sadaqat’s continued aggressive batting.
In response, Rahkeem Cornwall gave the Falcons a strong start by scoring 20 runs in the opening over before his dismissal. Lewis and Jangoo then added 64 runs for the second wicket, firmly placing the Falcons in control of the chase. After Lewis was dismissed for 38, Jangoo remained unbeaten on 57, and Nawaz on 47, to guide the team to victory without further loss.
Shadab Khan was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, contributing 132 runs and taking 11 wickets throughout the CPL season.
While the Trinidad and Tobago nationals celebrated with the Falcons, it was a sad competition for the Trinbago Knight Riders who finished last on the table, winning just three matches out of ten.
