Karima Gore aces the chase as Antigua open account

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons opened their account in CPL 2025 with a tight win over Barbados Royals in Antigua on Saturday (August 16). A powerful cameo from Rovman Powell, that saw him hammer an unbeaten 51 off just 24 balls, seemed to have given Royals momentum at the break but a measured unbeaten fifty from Karima Gore helped the home side pull through in the end.

The Falcons made the right call to bowl first on a two-paced surface on which the Royals struggled right from the outset. Jayden Seales induced an outside edge from Brandon King in just the second over and the first boundary of the bat came only after 25 deliveries as the batting side finished with just 31 in the powerplay. Losing one more wicket at the other end, Quinton de Kock finally teed off as he first hit Rahkeem Cornwall for a six and followed it up with successive fours against Odean Smith. The run rate finally touched six when Powell walked out and slammed back-to-back fours in the 12th over of the innings.

Powell's entry proved to be massive for the batting side as he hammered two sixes to help his team go past 100 and at the other end, de Kock brought up a valuable fifty. But before he could make it count in the final five overs, he was dismissed for 57 and the onus was now on Powell and Sherfane Rutherford to do some serious damage at the death. Rutherford did smack a six off his second ball but was sent packing in the very next over. At 128/6 after 19 overs, things appeared very bleak for the Royals before Powell unleashed himself in the final over to hit the ball over the ropes thrice in stunning fashion to bring up his fifty and power his side past the 150-run mark.

While they had momentum on their side at the break, Royals couldn't cause enough damage in the powerplay. Cornwall was dismissed early but Falcons still fared a lot better than their opponents in the fielding restrictions. Jewell Andrew came up with a few vital boundaries and laid the platform whereas Karima Gore was content being patient. After Jewell's dismissal, Royals could have easily pulled things back if not for two dropped catches in the same over. With Shakib Al Hasan failing to make an impact, the game was tantalisingly poised heading into the final five overs as Falcons needed 53 from 30.

Frustratingly for the bowling side, another chance was put down as Gore continued to bat deep into the chase. Imad Wasim then hit a four and a six in successive overs to add to the Royals' frustration and even after he was dismissed, Gore didn't let things slip as he slammed Eathan Bosch for two sixes in two deliveries to completely turn the tide. With just 14 needed off 12, a six from Fabian Allen in the penultimate aided Gore at the other end as the chase was completed with two balls to spare.

Brief scores: Barbados Royals 151/6 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 57, Rovman Powell 51*; Jayden Seales 2/15) lost to Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 152/4 in 19.4 overs (Karima Gore 64*; Jomel Warrican 1/20) by 6 wickets