The Sports Desk
CPL 2025: Falcons book their place in playoffs The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by four wickets to confirm their spot in the playoffs in Providence on the 10th of September. It took them to 11 points from 10 games, the third team to confirm a playoff berth after St Lucia Kings and Trinbago Knight Riders.
The Falcons had chosen to bowl first and after unleashing Jayden Seales with the new ball, he made an immediate impact. Putting the pedal to the metal, Seales tore through the top of Amazon Warriors’ batting order. He had Moeen Ali caught in the fourth over and then came back to take the wickets of Ben McDermott and Shimron Hetmyer within the powerplay. Even at 26 for 3, the Warriors were already under plenty of pressure. It was briefly perked through by Shai Hope who lashed 26 off 14, with three fours and a six, though his stay was ended by Usama Mir who bowled him in the ninth over. Mir was also involved in the run-out of Hassan Khan as the Warriors were bowled out for 99 in 18.2 overs. Seales ended with astonishing figures of 4 for 15, and Mir 3 for 17.
Chasing a small target of 100, the Falcons’ batting failed in patches. They were cornered after losing Andries Gous, Kevin Wickham, Karima Gore and Shakib Al Hasan within the powerplay. The Warriors’ spinners, Moeen Ali (2 for 10) and Imran Tahir (2 for 27), who were overlooked for most of the innings, pulled back the Warriors and gave a glimmer of hope of a comeback. But opener Amir Jangoo held firm in the face of the chaos. Playing with maturity and calm, Jangoo held the innings together with an unbeaten 51 off 57 balls, which included three fours and two sixes. With four balls to spare the calm presence of Amir Jangoo guided the Falcons over the line with 19.1 overs used in total.
Not only did this win restore the Falcons’ confidence, it muddled the playoff picture. The Falcons, Kings and Knight Riders are through, with the fourth spot up for grabs between the Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Royals. The Warriors, as a result, will now have to recover in their next match against table-toppers St Lucia Kings. A victory there locks up their berth in the playoffs and eliminates the Patriots and Royals. For his team, a win (in that match-up) would punch their playoff card, and knock out both Patriots and Royals.
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