The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons(ABF) won their second match against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots of CPL 2024, sealing the victory with just two balls remaining in the nerve-racking match.
After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, the Falcons bowled well, limiting the Patriots to 153-8 in 20 overs. ABF bowler Mohammed Amir’s 3-26 in four overs set the tone with the excellent pitch control created troubles for the Patriots, who struggled to gain momentum early on in the match.
However, Patriots batsman Miklye Louis played an extraordinary game. Hitting lower-order balls gave the Patriots some hope. Mikyle Louis came out in the ninth inning and turned things around with an aggressive performance, hitting a quick 63 runs off 36 deliveries, including seven sixes. Louis’ late charge, contributing 33 runs, helped the Patriots reach 153-8, which was considered impossible.
In his previous match against Guyana Amazon Warriors(GTK), Mikyle Louis made a quick cameo with 31 runs off 21 balls for the Patriots, highlighting his standout six off Imran Tahir in the 12th over after Tahir’s double-wicket. The six traveled 107m, the longest in CPL 2024.
Hunting 154 runs, the Falcons began confidently. Openers Brandon King and Justin Greaves laid a strong foundation, adding 55 runs for the first wicket. King got out for 29 in the fifth over to Anrich Nortje’s delivery.
King’s wicket led to a collapse, with the Falcons losing wickets steadily, allowing the Patriots to make a comeback. Wanindu Hasaranga shone with the ball, showcasing outstanding leg-spin skills. His four key wickets, including Greaves, Billings, Andrew, and Springer, created significant pressure on the Falcons’ middle order.
After Billings left at 110-7, the Falcons seemed in trouble against the Patriots. Yet, Roshon Primus and Imad Wasim’s strategy changed the game. They cleverly kept the score moving, bringing the required runs down to 22 from 18 balls with three wickets left.
Dominic Drakes bowled aggressively and kept the pressure, giving away only six runs as the Falcons required 15 runs off the last two overs. Nortje’s important wicket of Primus, caught at backward point, shifted momentum towards the Patriots.
In the decisive final over, Fabian Allen delivered the ball for the Falcons, securing the win with a quick single just two balls before the end. Wasim’s outstanding all-round performance, including his 17 not out and 2-24 with the ball, made him the Player of the match. His composure and calmness led to the Falcons’ success, pushing them to third place as the Patriots struggled at the bottom with five losses.
