Matthew Forde’s four-wicket burst and essential late boundaries from Joshua Bishop helped Saint Lucia Kings edge previous Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by three wickets in a rain-affected CPL 2026 encounter on the Daren Sammy Nationwide Cricket Stadium. The outcome moved the Kings to the highest of the factors desk and gave them their second win of the season.
Put in to bat, the Falcons have been rocked early by Forde, who struck twice within the second over. Evin Lewis fell for 1 earlier than Tim Robinson departed first ball, leaving Antigua and Barbuda at 6 for two. Forde then accounted for Rahkeem Cornwall, who had briefly threatened with a 17-ball 26 slamming two fours and two sixes alongside the best way.
Tajinder Dhillon and Amir Jangoo tried to rebuild, however the Falcons by no means discovered the momentum required to place up a sizeable whole. Joshua Bishop eliminated Dhillon, whereas Roston Chase chipped in with two wickets as Antigua and Barbuda slipped to 47 for six within the eighth over.
Jangoo’s 23 off 22 and Alzarri Joseph’s unbeaten 16 gave the Falcons one thing to work with, however they have been ultimately restricted to 98 for 9 in 19 overs. Forde completed with 4 for 29, whereas Chase returned wonderful figures of two for 7 from his 4 overs. Bishop additionally picked up two wickets for 16.
Rain then intervened and decreased the Kings’ chase to a sophisticated affair. The preliminary revised goal was 84 from 15 overs earlier than one other interruption introduced it right down to 52 from eight overs.
Even with the goal decreased, the Kings made onerous work of the chase. Roston Chase was dismissed for 1, Andries Gous made 7 and Ackeem Auguste and Jewel Andrew departed cheaply. Charith Asalanka and Darron Nedd additionally fell in fast succession, leaving Saint Lucia reeling at 21 for six.
Forde briefly offered impetus with an 11-ball 11, together with a six, however his dismissal to Shamar Springer left the Kings seven down with the end nonetheless unsure. Springer was the Falcons’ most profitable bowler, taking 3 for 13 from his two overs, whereas Joshua James claimed two wickets.
With the required runs inside touching distance, Shadley van Schalkwyk and Bishop saved their composure. Van Schalkwyk struck an unbeaten 8 off simply three balls, together with a six. There was nonetheless eight to get within the closing over and the decisive second got here when Bishop drilled a Joshua James full toss previous mid-off for 4. After two dot balls which included a evaluate for a caught-behind that confirmed no bat, Bishop obtained width from Joshua James and slashed the ball over deep backward level for six. The Kings completed on 54 for 7 after 7.4 overs to finish a three-wicket win underneath the DLS methodology.
Transient scores: Antigua & Barbuda Falcons 98/9 in 19 overs (Rahkeem Cornwall 26; Matthew Forde 4-29, Roston Chase 2-7) misplaced to Saint Lucia Kings 54/7 in 7.4 overs (Joshua Bishop 12*; Shamar Springer 3-13) by 3 wickets [DLS Method]
