Falcons storm into CPL final after Shadab, Moqim spin web around Warriors

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons stormed into the final of the Caribbean Premier League with a nine-wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors in Qualifier 1 in Bridgetown on Thursday (September 18). After bundling the Warriors out for just 76, with Shadab Khan registering a hat-trick, the Falcons chased the target down in just 5.2 overs to secure a place in the final.

Asked to bat first, the Warriors endured their second batting failure in as many games at Barbados. After being skittled out for just 99 in their previous game, the Warriors were unable to make amends. They started slowly, making just 34 for 1 in the Powerplay before suffering a catastrophic implosion. Introduced in tandem after the sixth over, Pakistani spinners Shadab and Sufyan Moqim ripped through the Warriors’ batting order.

Moqim was the first to strike, removing Glenn Phillips and Amir Jangoo in the eighth over. Then it was Shadab’s turn as he first had Shimron Hetmyer caught, Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped LBW and Quentin Sampson bowled in succession to claim a hat-trick. Moqim returned to dismiss Khary Pierre and Shai Hope in the 10th over before Shadab claimed his fourth wicket by bowling Imran Tahir in the next. The Warriors went from 40 for 1 to 49 for 9 in the blink of an eye.

A 27-run last-wicket stand between Romario Shepherd and Shamar Joseph offered some respite, but it was far from the recovery the Warriors needed. They were bowled out for 76 at the end of the 15th over with Shamar Springer claiming the last wicket.

The Falcons’ chase was just as ruthless, beginning with Rahkeem Cornwall smashing Imran Tahir for a four and two consecutive sixes in the opening over. Cornwall struck his third six in the following over before tearing into Khary Pierre and taking 26 runs off the third. The carnage continued, now with Shamar Joseph at the receiving end, as Evin Lewis got into the act by smashing 21 runs off the fourth over. Cornwall holed out to Tahir in the fifth over and fell one run short of his fifty but the damage had long been done as the Falcons cruised to victory inside the Powerplay.

The Warriors, who finished at the top of the points table having lost just two group-stage games (one of them to the Falcons), will now face the Jamaica Kingsmen in Qualifier 2.

Brief Scores: Guyana Amazon Warriors 76 all-out in 15 overs (Glenn Phillips 16, Shai Hope 16; Sufyan Moqim 4-13, Shadab Khan 4-16) lost to Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 77/1 in 5.2 overs (Rahkeem Cornwall 49, Evin Lewis 23*; Imran Tahir 1-20) by 9 wickets.