Time for us to conclude our coverage from the 3rd match of CPL 2025 between Antigua & Barbuda Falcons and Barbados Royals. ABF have emerged out victorious in this game keeping their nerve and they have got the first victory of the season.
For now, this is Saptak Sanyal signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ajay Pal Singh and the scorer/analyst of this game Raju Khariya. Have a good day.
Imad Wasim (Antigua & Barbuda Falcons Captain):"See we were in the game all the time. Gore played an unbelievable innings.
See this type of victory boosts your confidence. Tomorrow is another game and we have to comeback quickly. The victory is good but we have to turn up better tomorrow.
See as professionals, you have to be ready for a game time. Yes there's only 24 hours but I don't think there's any niggle issue in the camp and as I said, as professionals you have to turn up."
Rovman Powell (Barbados Royals Captain):"I thought it was a little bit difficult to bat early. I think we batted well and got to 150. We batted a little bit better tonight. I think we were just a bit rusty. Time for us to pick up the pieces and comeback in the next match.
It is pleasing to bat today. I tried to bat till the 20th over. Tomorrow is another day. We need to play a better cricket next day."
Karima Gore (POTM): "I put in a lot of work, I am feeling very good on the wicket. See ball, hit ball at the moment. When I first went in, just wanted to get used to the pitch. It was a bit difficult for me. And then, the skipper Imad came out, and told me to hold my base and pump it. Fabian also told me the same thing. It just calmed me down a bit, two experienced guys and give me tips, helped me a lot.
(Learning from Breakout league) I learnt a lot about myself and a lot about others. I think I am bringing it here and showing all I have learnt.
Yes, I pride myself on running. Trying to keep as fit as possible. They say singles are part of aggressive batting. Once you can run plenty, and hit the boundaries, keep going."
Player of the Match: Karima Gore
8:05 AM IST and 10:35 PM Local Time | Antigua & Barbuda Falcons fell flat in their first match but came back well today to get a victory over Barbados Royals by 6 wickets and with 2 balls to spare.
Barbados Royals came to bat first and lost their opener Brandon King early in the innings. Kadeem Alleyne had a horrible struggle in his 20-ball stay and scored only 13 runs. Shaqkere Paris got out scoring 6 off 12 balls. Three of the top four batters batted 39 balls to score only 22. That reeled the Barbados Royals back. Quinton de Kock however hit his shots and scored 57 off 45 balls before finding Fabian Allen off Obed McCoy.
Rovman Powell played a captain's knock. He didn't get the required support from the lower order batters and the score was 128 at the end of the 19th over. Powell took on Odean Smith in the final over of the innings and hit him for three sixes to remain unbeaten on 51 off 24 balls. His innings propelled his team over 150 and they posted 151/6 on the board.
Jayden Seales and Obed McCoy took a couple of wickets. Imad Wasim and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar took a wicket each.
In the pursuit of 152, Rahkeem Cornwall and Jewel Andrew opened the innings for the Falcons. Cornwall was showing his intent but scored only 10 from his 9-ball stay. A bizarre dismissal got the better of him. Jewel Andrew and Karima Gore then joined the crease and they together helped the Falcons crawl towards the target. They added 39 off 38 balls before Andrew got trapped in front of the off stump by Warrican.
Shakib Al Hasan played a few good shots in the starting of his innings but he got a tad sloppy. The scoreboard was moving slowly as Karima Gore was also taking his time. At the time of Shakib's dismissal, the asking rate was just over 10. Then Imad Wasim and Gore found a few sporadic boundaries and dragged the asking rate under control. However, the things turned in their favour in the 18th over. Karima Gore hit Eathan Bosch for two back-to-back maximums in the final two balls of that over and reached to his fifty. An over yielding 17 runs helped the Falcons straight away as they needed only 14 from the next couple of overs. Karima Gore and Fabian Allen took their team home at ease and they got the victory with two balls to spare.
Karima Gore remained unbeaten on 64 off 53 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. He was batting on 30 off 35 at a point and then he accelerated well and found the timing right.
For the Barbados Royals, Daniel Sams, Jomel Warrican and Mujeeb ur Rahman finished with a wicket each.
OVER 20
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
152/4
Karima Gore
64(53)
Fabian Allen
11(6)
Ramon Simmonds
0-30(3.4)
19.4 R Simmonds to K Gore
2 Karima Gore hits the winning runs and stays unbeaten on 64. Full and slower one outside off. Gore waits for it and slices it to deep cover point. He comes back for the second and wins the game for the hosts. Antigua & Barbuda Falcons get over the line with six wickets in hand.