Antigua and Barbuda Falcons vs Saint Lucia Kings, 3rd Match, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - CommentaryABF vs SLK, 3rd Match, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - Commentary

That's all from this game. We'll be back in a couple of days for Match 4 as Jamaica Kingsmen take on the Barbados Royals. Goodbye and take care!

Roston Chase: (Was it too close for comfort?) Yeah, it was too close for me. I thought that we had a good score on the board and when they went, I told my guys that we try to defend 160. I thought 160 was a good total to defend, but we didn't start as well as we would like. But we pulled back the game and I'm happy for the win. (Was that justice to your decision to bat first?) Yeah, as I said, I thought we were looking for about 165 from the beginning. But then Gous played a nice inning and that got we up to 180 odd. And we were very happy with that. So it's just for us to come out and execute the plans in the bowling. As I said, we didn't start as well as we wanted, but we're happy for the win. (What prompted that change and you bowling?) No, actually I was not planning on bowling tonight because my finger is still healing. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and I just tried to bowl through the pain. And I was able to get four overs in tonight and pull back the run rate, and the guys executed in the end, and it was good. (What was your word to Matthew Forde?) Yeah, I just went to him and asked him what is his plan coming into the over, what he wants to do. And then we would set the field accordingly. So it's just for him to execute what he wants to do. And I can't be vexed if it gets hit or it doesn't. Once he sticks to the plan that he told me, I'm happy with that, and it paid off.

Fabian Allen: (Where you felt you lost this game?) To be honest, I thought we had it, and at the end we just did not get over the line. But credits to St. Lucia, I think they put us under pressure. But having said that, I think we boys fight to the end, but we did not get over the line, unfortunately. (What did you make of that score at the halfway stage?) Yeah, I thought it was a good wicket, to be honest. But, as I said, the boys did not capitalize on that. But we just have to go back to the drawing board, and we have a few days off, and then come back up. (Was there anything that you could have done differently?) Yeah, I always back my player, and I thought he [Hamilton] is a good player. And I thought he would get us over the line. But it was not his day, but unfortunately we fell short. (Did you believe that you could still score 13 runs in the last over and cross the line?) Yeah, I always believe. I always believe to the last of the ball, last delivery. I always believe. So, tough luck tonight, and we're just going to go back home and refresh our mind, and come back in the next game.

Andries Gous | Player of the Match: (What would you say were the key elements in you being successful with the bat tonight?) I think it's just giving yourself a chance on the wicket. Obviously, they've got a really good opening attack with Jayden and Alzarri coming at the back of that power play. So, we just got to make sure that we had some wickets in hand and then you had to give yourself a chance once you got used to the wicket. And then the wind helped as well. So, you just got to play the wind and just get used to the wicket. (You were quite vocal with your partners and to yourself. Was that a way of you concentrating or mentorship to your younger partners?) Yeah, we obviously have a very young team, a lot of debutants today and a lot of guys haven't played CPL before. And so, I just try to help them as much as I can. But again, they're really good players, they're just young and inexperienced. So, we just try and get that experience a bit quicker for them. And the smartness today just wasn't there at stages, so hopefully next time we can just get that better. (What's the recipe for you being so successful across all the different leagues and playing in different conditions?) Yeah, I don't know. It's obviously tough in the U.S, the facilities are sometimes tough. So, it's more on the mental side. I have good people, I've got good family around me, I've got good people around me that support me and that I can speak to, that's probably it.

23:33 Local Time, 03:33 GMT, 09:03 IST: St Lucia Kings have opened their CPL 2026 campaign in style, securing a 4-run victory over the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. Earlier in the day, Andries Gous produced a superb knock to help the St Lucia Kings post a challenging total of 187. The opener led the charge with an impressive 82, setting the platform for a strong total, while the rest of the batting lineup chipped in with handy runs to keep the scoreboard moving. For the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Alzarri Joseph once again stood out with the ball, picking up three wickets. In the chase, Cornwall provided the Falcons with a brisk start before his dismissal brought Robinson and Lewis together. The pair launched a strong counterattack, with Lewis coming agonisingly close to a half-century, falling just two runs short. The opener's knock gave the Falcons plenty of momentum, and for a while, they appeared to have the chase firmly under control. However, the St Lucia Kings' spinners turned the game around with a series of tight overs. Chase and Theekshana applied the squeeze brilliantly, denying the Falcons easy runs and putting their batters under increasing pressure. Jahmar Hamilton, in particular, struggled to break free as the momentum swung back in favour of the Kings. Hamilton's knock of 10(20) proved to be the turning point of this match. Stay around for the presentation..

Matthew Forde to Shamar Springer, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Matthew Forde to Fabian Allen, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!