Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Qualifier 1, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - CommentaryGAW vs ABF, Qualifier 1, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - Commentary

A match that barely lasted over 20 overs and 2 hours, but the Falcons are flying high and have booked a ticket for Sunday's final. The Warriors have serious pondering to do, especially regarding their batting here at the Kensington Oval. But having finished as the group toppers, they've earned themselves another chance to get to that Sunday final. They're up against the Kingsmen from Jamaica in tomorrow's QF 2. Do join us for all the action. For now, cheers and bye..

Moeen (3/3): [On Rahkeem Cornwall] He's an amazing cricketer. He's got a brilliant mind. I go to him a lot as a captain. The shots he played today, the power he has, and he's very smart, and he bowls really well when the conditions suit him in the powerplay in particular. And there's a few players like that who people don't really probably mention or look at that enough. Try to use everyone as much as, Evan Lewis, guys like that who I go to a lot, actually more than probably people think. [On the Falcons fans] A big part of it is to make them happy and proud of us if we can have one more big push, because the support we got in Antigua was actually amazing for us, and since then actually we've had that sort of drive, and it's not just for us, it's the people from Antigua, it's the coaches, the players from Antigua. They have an amazing passion for the game and they really want us to do well and we feel part of the family and it's amazing to have that feeling.

Moeen (2/3): [Biggest learning and teaching] I've learned a lot about the players, bowlers having so many options, it's not always easy, but how to deal with that, and keeping guys happy as well. Sometimes that's the hardest thing. Jayden's bowled amazingly well, he's been brilliant for us, and today we missed that and it's such a big game. And Azarri missed one before. So it's just being good with the players. I missed the first two games and I played that other game and we were only defending 50 and I saw incredible fight from the guys, and I thought, me as a leader, if I can try and use that and use the fight and use the passion the guys have and we prepared really well, then it will help my game and I can help them. [Message to his team-mates before the final] Just doing the basics really well, what we've been doing really well. With the bat today is probably the first time we got off to a flyer in the powerplay. We haven't really done that much, because our game plan has been just to play and not lose those wickets and then cash in at the end, because we do have a good bowling attack. But just really doing the basics well, the reason we're in this position, why we're here, just really reiterating that and not getting too overconfident, because it is one game, and I've been in many finals and I feel like I've lost a lot, I've won a few, so I know what the feeling is like even when you're playing well. Just being humble and being quietly confident, not too overconfident, because it can bite you.

Moeen Ali (1/3): I like it, but I'm still we've got one big game to go and I'm very happy that we've made it to the final with that sort of performance. It would be amazing to win the final, but I was a bit apprehensive, we hadn't played for seven, eight days, and you're not sure exactly what you're going to get from the guys, but we were amazing tonight. I thought the bowlers, Azarri and Fabian up top, I thought did an amazing job on a good wicket, we felt, actually, and then the spinners in the middle just ripped through them and did an amazing job. [On the collapse after the powerplay] There was a bit of spin but I think it was just being a bit brave with the field, sometimes having a midwicket and making them try to not just giving them easy singles. And once I think we did that a little bit with Shady (Shadab) and Sufyan, we got wickets and I think they just got a bit surprised with the way we bowled. Seven were googlies, and it was just the line they bowled was amazing, came out the hand really well. But I thought a bit of poor batting in between, I have to say, but I do feel that it was a great performance by our bowlers.

Tahir (2/2): (On Romario Shepherd's batting position) I never thought I would bat above him, I just thought I might kill some spin overs, which is where he struggles, but unfortunately I also played a bad shot. But the thing is Sheppy is very dangerous in the last 4-6 overs, that's his position and we want to really save him so that he can go and explore himself. He's a fantastic player, but putting too much pressure on him isn't something we want to do. He's always a big performer for us and we want to keep him under less pressure.  (Addressing the supporters) I want to say sorry to our supporters, they've come in large numbers from the US and Guyana. We promise to come back strong tomorrow and not let them down, we want to put on a very big performance for them.

Imran Tahir (1/2): (On the batting collapse) This is not the first time we've crumbled like this and this is something we seriously need to think about. Unfortunately, we don't have time, less than 24 hours and we just need to comeback strongly, leave this behind and that's the only thing I can ask from my boys to be honest. (On the philosophy) I think it's a matter of patience; we aren't going to win every game, and the opposition isn't there just to hand us victories. If the pitch offers something different, we need to adjust to it. We've been playing all around the world, so that's not an excuse. I think we didn't fight well enough and I take the blame  on behalf of my team. We deserve to be here; we've played some really good cricket in the whole campaign, but that's past and the most important thing is the next two games. If you want to achieve your goal of being a CPL winner, we must justify what we did today. We need to be better and I'm sure we must come back very strongly tomorrow.  

Shadab (2/2): [On maintaining his rhythm despite having just returned from an eight-day layoff] Yeah, we were doing our practice very well and we have a very good preparation as well. We did amazing stuff. So obviously, throughout the tournament, rhythm was good, so try to make it that type of a mindset before the game and when you do the practice as well, make it that type of a mindset. [On the role clarity] I think role clarity is very important. I think the role is given to all of the players, me as well. So I think it's simple. I know what type of a role I'm playing and I make a mindset that way as well. So when you're clear, you know your role, and you make it a plan, and you think like that as well. So I think that's important, and I think I'm thinking that way.

Shadab Khan | Player of the Match (1/2): Obviously, I'm so happy because hat-trick is that type of a milestone you want as a player in your career. And I did it in the playoff game, so it's always good. And the team won, that's the most important as well. [On the key to his success] When you're in a good rhythm and you're in a good form, everything is happening on a good right stuff. And the other thing, I'm making simple stuff, like I know some players pick my wrong 'uns, some players pick my leg-spinner as well, but still I try to hit the stumps on a good area, and that's what I'm doing. Make it simple, because sometimes when you try to complicate stuff, cricket is a very hard game. So I try to make it simple and try to bowl in a good area into the stumps.

22:04 Local Time, 02:04 GMT, 07:34 IST: A demolition job at the Kensington Oval saw the Falcons make a mockery of the 77-run chase. The one-sided mismatch meant the game's result was decided in those manic 20-odd deliveries between the 8th and 11th overs. The Pakistan spin duo of Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Moqim ripped through GAW's batting and the rest was a mere formality. Rahkeem Cornwall blasted his way to a 16-ball 49 while Evin Lewis remained unbeaten on a 13-ball 23 as his team cruised home. They're through to the final and they await the winners of tomorrow's clash between the Kingsmen and the Warriors. The latter do have a second chance, but they'll be badly hurt by tonight's performance and need a massive lift in less than 24 hours time.

Imran Tahir to Rahkeem Cornwall, THATS OUT!! Caught!!