Antigua and Barbuda Falcons Secure Narrow Win Against Trinbago Knight Riders in CPL Finale

In a nail-biting finish to the CPL season, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons triumphed over the Trinbago Knight Riders by eight runs. Hasan Nawaz's stellar batting and strong bowling performances from Rahkeem Cornwall and Joshua James led the Falcons to victory. Despite a valiant effort from Kieron Pollard and Joshua Da Silva, the Knight Riders faced their third consecutive defeat, raising concerns about their playoff chances. The Falcons, on the other hand, have positioned themselves strongly for qualification. Read on for a detailed recap of this thrilling match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 3, 2026, 11:42 IST

Falcons Triumph in CPL Season Finale

Port of Spain [Trinidad and Tobago], September 3: In a thrilling conclusion to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons edged out the Trinbago Knight Riders by a mere eight runs at the Queen's Park Oval.

This defeat marked the Knight Riders' third consecutive loss, wrapping up a disappointing homestand where they managed to win only one out of five matches. Hasan Nawaz shone with the bat, while Rahkeem Cornwall and Joshua James excelled with the ball, leading the Falcons to victory following a rain-affected match against the Patriots.

The Falcons began their innings strongly during the PowerPlay, with Evin Lewis and Rahkeem Cornwall forming a solid 40-run partnership before Cornwall was dismissed by Usman Tariq. This marked the 17th consecutive CPL match in which he has taken a wicket.

Despite a missed catch that could have sent Lewis back to the pavilion early, the Falcons managed to reach 43 for 1 by the end of the PowerPlay, refusing to be bogged down by the Knight Riders' spinners.

Further misfielding plagued the Knight Riders as Moeen Ali was dropped on just 1 run by Akeal Hosein. Meanwhile, Hasan Nawaz was establishing himself as a key player, aggressively scoring runs against the Knight Riders' struggling seamers.

Nawaz reached his half-century in just 36 balls, supported by Moeen Ali, who was given a second chance. He was eventually caught by Alex Hales off Lahiru Kumara's bowling after scoring 76 runs.

The Falcons strategically targeted their opponents, with Usman Tariq and Sunil Narine maintaining tight bowling figures. The Falcons' captain finished the innings with a boundary, leading the team to a total of 183 for 4 after 20 overs.

In response, the Knight Riders adopted a high-risk strategy during the PowerPlay, scoring 63 runs but losing four wickets. Colin Munro and Nicholas Pooran both made promising starts but fell victim to Rahkeem Cornwall, who delivered an impressive spell of 3 for 17.

Kieron Pollard, despite battling an injury, attempted to rally his team with a 55-run partnership alongside Joshua Da Silva. However, Pollard's dismissal by Jayden Seales proved to be a turning point.

Joshua James played a pivotal role in claiming the crucial wicket, and he, along with Sharmar Springer, ensured a comfortable 25-run lead heading into the final over, which James executed flawlessly.

Joshua Da Silva managed to score a half-century, finishing with an unbeaten 54 after hitting a six off the last ball, but it was merely a consolation as the Knight Riders faced the possibility of missing out on playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Falcons reclaimed the top position and are well-placed for qualification.