Antigua & Barbuda Falcons registered an exhilarating last-ball victory towards the Jamaica Kingsmen on the opening night time of CPL 2026 on the Arnos Vale Floor in St Vincent. A chase of 167 went proper all the way down to the ultimate ball with the Falcons needing two runs off the ultimate ball. Shamar Springer flicked a full Hunain Shah supply to lengthy on the place a fumble from Rovman Powell allowed the batters to run again for a second and clinch a dramatic two-wicket win.
The Falcons seemed to be cruising within the chase, needing 9 to win off 10 balls with 5 wickets in hand. Among the many batters nonetheless obtainable was Tajinder Dhillon, whose sprightly half-century and a 64-run partnership with Tim Robinson had put the chase in management. In opposition to the run of play, Andre Russell struck with a full ball that discovered Dhillon’s edge and into Shayan Jahangir’s gloves. With Dhillon falling for a 37-ball 62, the Falcons have been left with new batters to chase down the ultimate few runs.
Even that ought to have been simple till Hunain, bowling the final over, dismissed Jahmar Hamilton and Usama Mir with the third and fourth deliveries. Alzarri Joseph might solely muster a single off the fifth, leaving Springer to get two from the final, which he managed because of a bit of fielding benevolence.
Earlier within the night, very important contributions from Reeza Hendricks (42 off 25) and Powell (47 off 37) helped the Jamaica Kingsmen publish a aggressive 167 after they have been despatched into bat. Chasing the goal, the Falcons suffered an early setback as Evin Lewis was cleaned up by Keemo Paul for six. Paul additionally dismissed the opposite opener Rahkeem Cornwall.
Nonetheless, Robinson and Tajinder Dhillon turned the sport round with an important third-wicket stand. However there have been nonetheless twists to return. Simply because the stand started to look threatening, Russell stepped as much as break the partnership, additionally reaching the milestone of 100 CPL wickets within the course of. The Falcons virtually gave it away on the demise earlier than recovering to stutter over the road.
Temporary scores: Jamaica Kingsmen 167/7 in 20 overs (Rovman Powell 47, Reeza Hendricks 42; Alzarri Joseph 3-34) misplaced to Antigua & Barbuda Falcons 168/8 in 20 overs (Tajinder Dhillon 62, Tim Robinson 40; Keemo Paul 3-29) by 2 wickets
