SKN VS ABF T20S

Well then, Antigua & Barbuda Falcons get two more crucial points with this win and will leave their home ground with sweet memories, with three wins and just one defeat out of five games at North Sound. Jason Holder and his Patriots face their fourth defeat in six games, and couldn't do the double over the Falcons. That's a wrap from this clash, but worry not folks, as this is the double-header weekend and action in the CPL 2025 continues as next up, is another crucial clash coming all the way from Saint Lucia where the Saint Lucia Kings are ready to host the Barbados Royals, in Match 12. That game will begin in just a few hours' time from now, on Monday, 25th August and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 4.30 am IST (11 pm GMT, the previous day). Do join for the pre-match analysis and build up in advance. But from here, we sign off. Take care, cheers!

The victorious captain of Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Imad Wasim, says that everyone in the team played well and goes on to wax lyrical about Shakib Al Hasan. On Karima Gore, Wasim says that Gore is one of the players to watch out for, just like Jewel Andrew was last season. Mentions that the tougher games are now coming up as they will be playing away from home.

The captain of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Jason Holder, admits that they didn't get enough runs on the board. Points that it was a tough wicket to bat on. Also shares that they have got a few niggles in the back and it is all about managing them to get the best out of the team. Stresses that they need to play better cricket. Highlights that they scraped through in a few games but humbly admits that they need to put on better performances.

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons' Shakib Al Hasan is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine all-round display. Shakib says that it feels great to contribute to the team, especially when it is a winning cause. Adds that this will give him confidence and hopefully, he can continue in the same way as an important phase of the tournament is coming up. Ends by saying that he is always trying to improve his mindset.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

Earlier in the game, Imad Wasim asked the Patriots to bat first, and it was a slow burn through and through. The call worked well as the Falcons’ bowlers were disciplined from the very first ball, making runs hard to come by. Lewis and Rizwan managed to score, though even they looked scratchy, while the rest failed to fire. The innings never lifted, and a messy finish pushed the Patriots further back. Seales began with control, the attack kept the pressure on, and Shakib Al Hasan starred with three wickets while also reaching the landmark of 500 in T20s. And with only 133 on the board, the Patriots were always playing catch-up.

This win puts the Falcons in a stronger position with seven points. And more importantly, they decimated the opposition with the ball, having rested Obed McCoy, their best bowler this year so far. Hence, they will take a lot of heart from this win. The Patriots may have lost the contest, but they can take some solace in ensuring the Falcons didn’t finish the chase too quickly. By keeping the target from being overhauled in a rush, they avoided a major dent to their net run rate.

Chasing under a hundred at a run a ball was always going to be about keeping things steady rather than flashy. And that’s exactly what the Falcons did. Karima Gore, riding his rich vein of form, first joined hands with Jewel for a 37-run stand, before finding Shakib Al Hasan at the other end to add another 35, with the veteran’s composure guiding the way. Those partnerships shut the door on any drama and made sure the chase stayed well under control. In games with modest targets, it’s these solid little stands that often prove more than enough.

Defending 133, the winning formula for the Patriots was pretty simple. Get early wickets and push the opposition on the back foot early doors. But those clusters of wickets never arrived. In fact, unlike the Falcons, the bowlers of the Patriots were a bit wayward in their lines and lengths, which allowed the openers to get to a decent start. Although Cornwall departed soon after, Jewel Andrew's composed start and calculated aggression helped them to get 45/1 at the end of Powerplay.

The Falcons will fly high from Antigua as they finish their home leg on a positive note and will remain crowned at the top of the table. Also, what an amazing find Karima Gore has been for the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. With three half centuries in five innings, he has batted with pure class and hasn't tried anything extravagant, showing great promise and character. The Falcons' dugout is jubilant and those expressions from Sir Curtly Ambrose say it all.

FOUR! That's it, Karima Gore seals proceedings in style and brings up a third FIFTY of the season as well. Jason Holder serves a full toss on middle, Gore backs away and slaps it flat over mid on. The fielder over there gets both hands on it but the ball bursts through the hands and rolls into the long on fence.

A tad fuller and angled into the pads, Gous backs away and shovels it through backward square leg for one. Scores are now level and the crowd starts to roar as well.

Back of a length and over off, slower too, Gous backs away to cut but gets an outside edge that doesn't carry to the keeper. 2 needed now off 4 balls.

Gets away with that, does Holder! Tries to follow the batter down the leg side but ends up bowling a high full toss right at the mid riff. Gore manages to jam it into the leg side and picks up a single. There is a check for a No Ball but the height seems just fine. Fair delivery!

Jason Holder (3-0-20-0) to bowl the final over of the match. The Falcons need 3 to win off the last 6 deliveries.

Quicker one, slips it down the leg side, Gore fails to flick it away and the ball deflects away off the keeper's glove down to short fine leg and they get an extra run as well. The bowler and, in fact, the entire Patriots team is perplexed with that wide call and have gone for a review for LBW just to get the wide call overturned, probably. The third umpire is called in and UltraEdge shows that the ball clipped the thigh pad and the wide called is changed. It will just be a leg bye and will stay NOT OUT as well as Ball Tracking shows wickets as missing.

Floated up at the stumps, hit away down to long on for one more by Gous.