Kingsmen lose final-ball thriller to open CPL

ARNOS VALE, St Vincent (CMC):

In a finish that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons opened their 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign with a last-ball thriller, edging the Jamaica Kingsmen by the narrowest of margins at Arnos Vale Stadium.

Chasing a modest 168 for victory, the Falcons found themselves needing six runs from the final over. What followed was pure drama.

Hunain Shah, bowling with ice in his veins, claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Jahmar Hamilton and Usama Mir, both caught spectacularly on the boundary, to swing momentum back towards the Kingsmen.

But cricket can be a game of cruel twists. With two runs needed off the final ball, Shamar Springer nudged the ball towards long-on, where Kingsmen captain Rovman Powell fumbled in the field.

Springer and Alzarri Joseph scrambled back for two dramatic runs, sealing a two-wicket victory that seemed snatched from the jaws of defeat.

The Falcons’ chase was anchored by a magnificent innings from Tajinder Singh, who smashed 62 off just 37 deliveries.

His aggressive strokeplay kept the required rate in check, particularly during a 64-run third-wicket partnership with New Zealander Tim Robinson, whose workmanlike 40 laid the platform for the chase.

Local favourite Rahkeem Cornwall also entertained the crowd with a brisk 24 from 21 balls.

Earlier, the Falcons’ bowling attack, led by West Indies pace duo Alzarri Joseph (3-34) and Jayden Seales (1-19), along with Pakistan’s Usama Mir (1-17), produced an international-quality performance to restrict the Kingsmen to 167-7.

South African debutant Reeza Hendricks provided the Kingsmen’s early fireworks, plundering 28 runs from Karima Gore’s sixth over. The right-hander finished with a fluent 42 from 25 balls in his first CPL appearance.

Captain Rovman Powell’s composed 47 was the backbone of the innings, although the Kingsmen struggled for fluency through the middle overs.

A six-ball cameo from Keemo Paul, who made 16, injected some late urgency as 54 runs came from the final four overs.

Paul was also the pick of the Kingsmen bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 3-29. But it was Andre Russell who grabbed the headlines, reaching two significant milestones during his four-over spell.

The all-rounder removed Robinson for his 100th CPL wicket before dismissing Singh for his 101st, sparking a middle-order collapse that kept the Kingsmen in the contest.

When Hunain Shah conceded 19 runs in his over, the Falcons appeared to be cruising, needing just 20 runs from the final three overs.

However, Russell’s fightback in the penultimate over gave Shah a chance to defend the target in the final over, a chance that ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Jamaica-based side.

The Falcons, meanwhile, will take immense confidence from a victory that showcased both their resilience and their ability to perform under pressure as they seek to build momentum in the tournament.