Antigua and Barbuda Falcons prevail in last-over thriller

Brandon King's whirlwind 98* wasn't enough as Barbados Royals remained winless in CPL 2025. Antigua and Barbuda Falcons were powered in a last-ball thriller by opener Andries Gous (85 off 54) as they chased down Falcons' 187 for 4 with four wickets to spare. Even in a game where the Falcons conceded a big total, medium-pacer Salman Irshad bowled a fabulous spell worth 2 for 13 in four overs. The Royals were also undone by their repeated lapses on the field - dropping six catches.

The Falcons went into the death overs of their run-chase needing 56 from 30 deliveries and Gous going strong on 62. He started the 16th over with a six off Eathan Bosch but the pacer dismissed Shakib Al Hasan in the same over. There was more topsy-turvy drama in store as Daniel Sams got rid of Fabian Allen, but gave away 14 runs in the over. While dew made its presence felt and worsened the situation for the Royals, Johann Layne was further frustrated by Chris Green dropping a catch for the fourth time in the chase.

It gave Gous another reprieve in a 12-run over, leaving the Falcons to chase 19 off 12. Ramon Simmonds nailed his yorkers and bowled a fantastic penultimate over for just seven runs, leaving Sherfane Rutherford to defend 12 in the last over. Imad Wasim and Gous picked singles and twos while Simmonds also bowled three wides. With four to get off two balls, Wasim was run out while attempting a second run. Shamar Springer walked out and pulled a length ball to collect the two runs needed for the win that put the Falcons on course to the playoffs.

Before it got tricky at the death, it was set up by Gous and the multiple stands he forged. He began by taking 45 in the PowerPlay with Amir Jangoo, added 64 for the third wicket with Kevin Wickham, 30 with Shakib and vital 37 runs with Wasim.

Royals too managed a lot of these when they set the target. King and Quinton de Kock laid the platform for them with a 91-run opening stand off 11.2 overs. The essay was further enhanced by the second-wicket partnership that followed, worth 73 between King and Rutherford. During the course of these two alliances, King smashed his six fours and seven sixes to put his team well on top. The pair even entered the death overs with aplomb, smashing 21 off Jayden Seales with three sixes in it.

Despite losing a few more wickets, the Royals managed 39 off the last 24 deliveries to post a big total. But often, in high-scoring matches like these, the margin for success and failure is rather miniscule. Irshad, who'd given away just five runs in his first two overs, operated expertly at the death. He conceded just four runs in the 17th over and four more in the 19th, while picking both his wickets in that over. His change of pace and yorkers were tough to put away, and eventually proved crucial in Royals' failed endeavour to break duck.

Brief Scores: Barbados Royals 187/4 in 20 overs (Brandon King 98*; Salman Irshad 2-13) lost to Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 188/6 in 20 overs (Andries Gous 85; Daniel Sams 3-29) by 4 wickets