Trinbago Knight Riders Crush Antigua Falcons by 9 Wickets in CPL Eliminator

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons crashed out of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after a comprehensive nine-wicket defeat to the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Eliminator match at Providence Stadium in Guyana. Batting first, Antigua managed to post a total of 166 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Despite some bright moments, including a quick cameo from Shakib Al Hasan, their innings ultimately fell short, and the Knight Riders chased down the target with ease, thanks to a dominant partnership between Nicholas Pooran and Alex Hales.

Shakib Al Hasan played an explosive innings of 26 runs off just 9 balls, hitting four fours and a six, providing a late surge for Antigua. However, his effort could not make up for the slower scoring in the middle overs. The innings had started poorly when opener Rakim Cornwall fell cheaply for just 6 runs, putting immediate pressure on the Falcons. Amir Jangu and American batter Andres Goos then steadied the innings with a 108-run partnership for the second wicket, building a foundation for a competitive total. Jangu scored 55 runs off 49 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, while Goos contributed an unbeaten 61 from 45 balls with five fours and three sixes. Although the pair batted well, their slower strike rates meant Antigua could have posted a bigger total if they had accelerated earlier in the innings.

After the departure of Jangu and Goos, Antigua’s batting collapsed, losing six wickets for just 32 runs. Shakib Al Hasan’s whirlwind cameo helped push the score to 166, but it was too little, too late. From the Trinbago Knight Riders’ perspective, Sourav Netravalkar was the standout bowler, taking three crucial wickets. Usman Tariq and Andre Russell contributed by taking two wickets each, restricting Antigua’s total and setting the stage for a manageable chase. Shakib, while effective with the bat, bowled three overs for 24 runs without claiming a wicket, and Cornwall, the only Antigua bowler to take a wicket, conceded 50 runs in four overs, highlighting the struggle in their bowling attack.

Chasing 167, Trinbago Knight Riders began their innings cautiously, losing Kiwi opener Colin Munro for 25 runs early in the chase. However, after that early setback, Trinbago’s innings became a display of batting dominance. Nicholas Pooran and Alex Hales built a remarkable unbroken partnership of 143 runs, ensuring that Trinbago’s victory was never in doubt. Pooran scored a brilliant 90 runs off 53 balls, striking three fours and eight sixes, while Hales remained unbeaten on 54 runs off 40 balls with three fours and six sixes. The partnership allowed Trinbago to reach the target comfortably in 17.3 overs, leaving nine wickets in hand and securing a place in the CPL final.

The match highlighted the contrast between the two teams’ approaches. Antigua struggled with a slow scoring rate in the middle overs despite some explosive batting at the end, whereas Trinbago executed a well-paced chase, blending aggression with calculated partnerships. The Pooran-Hales partnership demonstrated excellent timing, power-hitting, and composure under pressure, leaving Antigua with little chance of a comeback. Their clinical batting effectively neutralized any threat from Antigua’s bowlers.

Overall, Trinbago Knight Riders’ comprehensive nine-wicket win emphasized their dominance in the CPL Eliminator, while Antigua and Barbuda Falcons exited the tournament despite some individual performances. Shakib Al Hasan’s quick cameo and the fifties from Jangu and Goos provided glimpses of fighting spirit, but the team’s inability to accelerate at crucial moments and the effectiveness of Trinbago’s top-order batting sealed their fate. With this win, Trinbago not only showcased their batting depth but also strengthened their campaign momentum heading into the final.