By NAN Sports Editor
News Americas, BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Tues. Sept. 22, 2206: The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons are Caribbean Premier League, CPL 2026 champions for the first time, defeating the Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets at Kensington Oval to claim their maiden title.
An unbeaten 89-run stand between Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz sealed the historic win, chasing down a target set up by Sufyan Moqim’s devastating spell of 4 for 14 on Sept. 20. Maaz Sadaqat’s second century of the season proved not enough for the Kingsmen, who were held to 170 for 9.
Sent in to bat, the Kingsmen signaled their intent immediately, with Sadaqat launching Jayden Seales into the stands off the first ball of the match. Seales struck back before the over ended, though, getting Kirk McKenzie caught sharply by Rahkeem Cornwall in the slips.
Keacy Carty joined Sadaqat, and the pair, both standouts of the play-offs, looked to build another big partnership before Carty picked out Shadab Khan at cover.
Saim Ayub
Saim Ayub survived an early scare when an lbw decision against him was overturned on review after a faint glove edge was detected. The Kingsmen closed the Power Play at 59 for 2.
Sadaqat kept up his red-hot play-off form, reaching his half-century off just 27 balls. But the Falcons’ bowling depth, on full display throughout the tournament, turned the innings on its head. Moqim struck twice in his first over, removing Ayub and Rovman Powell, before Shadab got rid of Romaine Morris and Moqim returned to claim Hassan Khan. In the space of 12 deliveries, the Kingsmen lost four wickets for just three runs.
Sadaqat, however, refused to fold. Playing with trademark 360-degree hitting, he powered to the first century in a CPL final, reaching triple figures off 49 balls before falling on the penultimate delivery of the innings. His knock lifted the Kingsmen to 170 for 9 from their 20 overs.
The Falcons
The Falcons opened their chase in blistering fashion, with Cornwall smashing 20 runs off the first over before being bowled by its final ball. His early assault set the platform for Evin Lewis and Jangoo to combine caution with aggression through the Power Play, which produced 76 for 1 after six overs, including 17 runs in the final over alone.
Lewis fell shortly after, chopping on off Vitel Lawes, but the breakthrough only sharpened Jangoo’s focus. Joined by Nawaz, he built a composed, increasingly dominant partnership that kept the required rate comfortably in hand. Jangoo reached his half-century with the stand already past 50, putting the Falcons firmly in control heading into the closing overs.
Nawaz finished the job in style, launching the winning runs for six as his teammates sprinted onto the field in celebration. The Falcons closed at 173 for 2 with 20 balls to spare, completing an eight-wicket victory and delivering the Antigua & Barbuda franchise its first CPL title.
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