Antigua and Barbuda Falcons booked their place in the Caribbean Premier League 2026 final with a crushing nine-wicket win over league leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors in Qualifier 1 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, on Wednesday night, September 17. Asked to bat first, the Amazon Warriors were bowled out for 76 in 15 overs and the Falcons chased the target in just 5.2 overs.
Pakistan spinners Shadab Khan (4-16) and Sufyan Moqim (4-13) did the damage. The Amazon Warriors were 40 for 1 after the powerplay before losing eight wickets in 3.1 overs to collapse to 49 for 9. Moqim struck twice in the eighth over, removing Glenn Phillips and Mohammad Haris, before Shadab took a hat-trick in the ninth — Shimron Hetmyer caught at long-on, then Mehidy Hasan Miraz lbw and Quentin Sampson bowled for first-ball ducks.
Moqim then dismissed Khary Pierre and Shai Hope, and Shadab bowled Imran Tahir to leave the Warriors in danger of failing to reach 50. A 27-run last-wicket stand between Romario Shepherd (14 not out) and Shamar Joseph (7) took them to 76 before Shamar Springer claimed the final wicket in the 15th over. Shadab was named Player of the Match.
The chase was over before the end of the powerplay. Rahkeem Cornwall hit 49 from 16 balls, taking the Falcons to 50 without loss in 17 deliveries, and Evin Lewis (23 not out) added two fours and two sixes in one over from Joseph. Cornwall fell to Tahir in the fifth over, but Lewis and Amir Jangoo completed the win at 77 for 1.
Guyana Amazon Warriors, who topped the league table, get a second chance in Qualifier 2 against Jamaica Kingsmen at Kensington Oval on Friday, September 18, starting at 7:00pm local time (11:00pm GMT). The winner meets Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the CPL 2026 final at the same venue on Sunday, September 20, also at 7:00pm local time (11:00pm GMT).
