TKR VS ABF T20S

That’s all from this thriller in Antigua, where the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons kept their composure and pulled off a memorable win. The CPL 2025 action now moves to Warner Park, Basseterre, where St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will face Barbados Royals in Match number 8. The clash takes place on Friday, 22nd August, with the first ball scheduled at 4.30 am IST (11 pm GMT, the previous night). As always, we’ll be back with all the build-up an hour before. Until then, take care! CIAO!

The victorious skipper of Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Imad Wasim, starts by appreciating Fabian Allen and says he played unbelievably well. Admits that they thought anything above 160 was a winning score in this track. On the positives, he says that everyone chipped in with the ball. Shares that they knew if they got Alex Hales and Colin Munro early up top, they would be in the game. Mentions that the confidence is really high in the boys, but also stresses that they are not taking any team lightly. Says they have a quick turnaround now, and adds that the Guyana Amazon Warriors is a tough team to beat. He expects to put on a great show in front of the home crowd in that match as well.

The skipper of Trinbago Knight Riders, Nicholas Pooran, says that they were happy with the total on board as the bowlers did an incredible job, with Fabian Allen coming out to play a good innings, which hurt them. Feels that 167 was a very chaseable score and admits that the team gave the game away with a few loose shots in the middle overs. Pooran stresses on the importance of accountability within the batting unit, adding that as a group, they need to take it deeper and play the situation better. Acknowledges that teams will come hard at them and believes it is crucial for TKR to use their experience to handle such moments.

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons' Obed McCoy is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for picking up a sensational 4-fer. On missing out on the five-for, McCoy says it is the game of cricket, and it happens. Reflects that the pitch was gripping from the first game, but points out that it gripped a bit more in this game than it did in the first. Says he stuck to his strengths and got the rewards. Shares that taking pace off with two fielders out in the deep works for him. He is proud of himself for putting in a performance like this.

Time for the Post-Match Presentations....

Earlier in the game, Nicholas Pooran won the toss and invited the Falcons to bat first, where their innings didn’t begin smoothly. Their top order collapsed with Cornwall, Gore, Andrew, Jacobs, and Shakib all gone cheaply, leaving them reeling at 77/5. But the skipper, Imad Wasim, played a captain’s knock with a controlled 39 not-out, holding the innings together. The real spark, however, came from Fabian Allen, who lit up the ground with a blistering 45 off just 20 balls, hammering both pace and spin to all parts. That late surge, coupled with Springer’s handy cameo, pushed the Falcons to a fighting total of 167/6. At one stage, even 150 looked difficult, but Allen’s fireworks ensured a defendable score was on the board. The Knight Riders bowlers had mixed returns. Sunil Narine was miserly as ever, conceding only 17 runs in his four overs, while Usman Tariq impressed with two crucial wickets. Akeal Hosein also chipped in with a scalp, but the real trouble came from Nathan Edwards, who leaked 56 runs in his spell despite picking up two wickets. His expensive last two overs undid the pressure built by Narine, allowing Allen and Imad to flourish in the death overs.

For the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Obed McCoy was the hero with the ball, claiming four wickets and breaking the backbone of the TKR batting lineup. He dismissed Munro at the perfect time and Hales in the same over inside the Powerplay first, and later returned to remove Carty and Hosein, sealing his impact on the game. Cornwall’s spell was golden, as he dismissed Pooran right when he looked to accelerate and didn't give anything away much. Shakib Al Hasan’s clever arm-ball accounted for Bravo, and while Jayden Seales and Imad Wasim went wicketless, they kept things tight enough. Springer may not have got a wicket, but his calm last over in the face of Pollard’s assault will be remembered as a match-defining moment.

Chasing 168, TKR had the best possible start with Colin Munro blasting 44 off just 18 balls. His stroke play in the Powerplay set the tone, but his dismissal turned the game on its head. Alex Hales fell cheaply after struggling with the timing, Nicholas Pooran was undone by a sharp stumping, and suddenly, the early momentum was lost. Although Keacy Carty tried to steady the ship with a patient 35, but wickets kept falling at the other end, leaving Pollard with the task of reviving hope. And revive he did. Dropped a couple of times, the big man punished the Falcons with some towering sixes, dragging the chase deep. The equation came down to the last over, but despite Pollard’s brilliance, the Knight Riders fell just short by 8 runs.

INTENSE and TENSED, but the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons edged past Trinbago Knight Riders ​​​​​​in this nerve-wrecking contest. They maintain a clean sheet against the Knight Riders, extending it to 3-0, and go top of the table. The night had fluctuating fortunes, where the momentum kept swinging like a pendulum, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. For the Falcons, it was about holding their nerve with the ball in hand, while for the Knight Riders, it was about one man, Kieron Pollard, fighting till the very end. The veteran almost pulled off a heist with his sheer power and experience, but Shamar Springer’s calm approach, where he had to defend 13 runs in the final over, ensured the Falcons climbed to the top.

FOUR! It is a boundary, but the Falcons will spread their wings wide and fly high! Low full toss, on middle and leg, Kieron Pollard flicks it through square leg for a boundary! Antigua & Barbuda Falcons win by 8 runs!

Just wow! Springer has got his side home with nerves of steel against one of the best T20 batters in the world! Full and angling into the batter, Pollard miscues the heave to deep mid-wicket. Does not run!

Three dots in a row! And now, Pollard needs to smoke both balls over the ropes to stretch it into a super over! Low full toss, laser-straight on the stumps, Kieron Pollard heaves, but gets off the bottom end towards long on. Does not run. Understably so.

What a brilliant final over this is turning out to be! Springer has been spot on so far! Shamar delivers a slower bouncer at the bodyline of the batter, Pollard looks to pull it hard over the leg side, but is cramped for space as the ball nips in.

Good bowling! Slower short delivery, just outside off. Kieron Pollard swings with all his might to go up and over the off side, but fails to connect.

Short and angled outside off, Nathan Edwards swings to go over the leg side, but top edges it over short third for a single.

And, it has come down to the wire again, just like yesterday's match. Fans are getting treated to these nail-biters this season in CPL 2025. Trinbago Knight Riders need 14 runs in the last six final balls. Shamar Springer will bowl these final balls. Can he defend 13 or will Pollard, who is off strike for now, get his team over the line?

FOUR! Up and over! This is Pollard at his best! Fuller and wider outside off, Kieron Pollard again moves closer to the ball and smokes it over mid off and cover for a boundary. 14 needed off the last over then!