Sufyan Moqim’s Four-For Guides Falcons to Maiden Caribbean Premier League Title

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons lifted their first CPL trophy in only their third season after beating Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets in Bridgetown. The Falcons were hugely dominant in the chase, with Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz finishing the job with 20 balls to spare.

Jamaica Kingsmen were sent in first and managed 170 for 9. Their innings largely depended on Maaz Sadaqat, who produced a superb 114 from 58 deliveries. Apart from him, Saim Ayub was the only Kingsmen batter to score more than 10 runs, while three of their top six failed to get off the mark.

Meanwhile, Sufyan Moqim was the main reason the Kingsmen could not post a bigger total. The spinner claimed four wickets for just 14 runs, putting the Falcons in control despite Sadaqat’s big knock.

Jamaica Kingsmen looked on course for a much bigger total during the early part of their innings. Jayden Seales removed Kirk McKenzie for a duck in the first over, while Keacy Carty was dismissed for 9 in the fourth. Sadaqat then joined Ayub and the pair added 80 runs for the third wicket.

The two batters took the score from 30 for 2 to 110 for 2, with Sadaqat leading the attack and the Kingsmen scoring at close to 10 runs an over.

Moqim then changed the game in the 12th over by picking up two wickets. Ayub tried to hit him towards the leg side but was caught, while Rovman Powell was caught at backward point without scoring. The Kingsmen then lost four wickets for just three runs, slipping from 110 for 2 to 113 for 6.

Meanwhile, Sadaqat kept going and continued to attack until he was dismissed from the penultimate delivery. Due to his lone fight, Kingsmen finished with 170 on the board, which always looked like a below par total.

Rahkeem Cornwall gave the Falcons a fast start while chasing 171. He smashed Ayub for two fours and two sixes in the first over, which went for 20 runs, but was bowled with the final ball of the over.

Evin Lewis and Amir Jangoo then kept the chase moving. The pair added 64 runs for the second wicket, putting the Falcons in a strong position. After scoring a quick 38, Lewis eventually went back to the pavilion, but his wicket did not create much pressure on the Falcons, as they were already cruising towards victory by then.

Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz took control from there and did not allow the Kingsmen to come back into the game. Due to their relentless onslaught, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons eventually ended the contest in the 17th over, with Nawaz hitting two back-to-back sixes to seal the chase. The result gave the Falcons their first-ever title in the Caribbean Premier League, with Shadab Khan standing out as their best performer in the tournament.