Falcons Hold Nerve in Thrilling Chase
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons pulled off a dramatic last-ball victory against Barbados Royals in Bridgetown, chasing down 188 to win by four wickets. Despite some nervy moments in the final over, Shamar Springer struck the winning runs, keeping Falcons firmly in third place on the CPL 2025 points table.
The defeat extended Barbados Royals’ miserable run this season, leaving them winless with just a single point after six matches. Brandon King’s magnificent unbeaten 98 went in vain as fielding errors cost the Royals dearly.
“𝑾𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚,” 𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝑹𝒐𝒗𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆.
Gous Leads the Way
Andries Gous was the hero for Falcons, smashing an unbeaten 85 off 53 balls, including five fours and four sixes. His composed innings anchored the chase, even as wickets fell at the other end. Falcons needed 12 off the final over, but Powell gambled by giving the ball to Sherfane Rutherford, who hadn’t bowled in 26 T20 matches.
Rutherford bowled three wides early, creating more drama. Imad Wasim was run out attempting a risky second run, leaving Falcons needing two off the last ball. Local talent Springer kept his cool and drove his side home with a boundary.
“𝑺𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒅,” 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑵𝒊𝒕𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒌𝒆.
Royals’ Fielding Woes Continue
Chris Green had a forgettable outing, dropping four catches, while Daniel Sams shelled two more. Those lapses proved decisive as Falcons capitalized on every extra chance. Earlier, openers Gous and Amir Jangoo gave Falcons a brisk start before Sams struck with the ball. Kevin Wickham added 26 before being dismissed, but the Royals’ missed chances allowed Gous to carry his side across the finish line.
King’s Lone Hand in Royals’ Innings
Batting first, Royals posted 187 for 4, thanks largely to King’s fireworks. After a slow start in the powerplay, King exploded with boundaries in nearly every over. He dominated spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Imad Wasim, before taking Jayden Seales for three sixes in an over.
However, after reaching 94 off 58 balls, King barely saw the strike in the closing stages. Salman Irshad bowled a superb spell at the death, dismissing Rovman Powell and Rassie van der Dussen, restricting the Royals to just 38 runs in the last four overs.
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