August 26, 2025 – On Sunday, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons wrapped up their home leg with a performance that was both symbolic and decisive. Defeating the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots by seven wickets, the Falcons not only tied their head-to-head series with their Leeward Islands rivals but also reinforced why they remain at the top of the Caribbean Premier League standings as they prepare for their road games.
The match itself carried the weight of unfinished business. Beaten in the tournament opener by the Patriots, the Falcons were determined to flip the script on home turf. They achieved this with a bowling performance that combined efficiency and ruthlessness: Jayden Seales and Salman Irshad limited the scoring rate with precision. All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan sealed the Patriots’ fate by dismantling the middle order, while making history as the first man to reach both 500 wickets and 7,000 runs in T20 cricket. The Patriots finished with a score of 133/9, never able to breathe easily under the Falcons’ disciplined attack.
If the ball set the tone, then Karima Gore sealed the symphony with his bat. His unbeaten 52 was a masterclass in composure. Anchoring the innings, he turned a tricky chase into a steady march, guiding the Falcons across the finish line with just two balls remaining. In a tournament where close margins determine outcomes, Gore’s level-headedness was the Falcons’ ultimate weapon. In his debut CPL season, Gore is currently at the top of the runs table with 218 runs, including 3 half-centuries and 2 not-outs.
But the victory was about more than just revenge. It was the final stamp on a home leg that has quietly strengthened the Falcons’ identity and lineup. The franchise has relied on experience and strategic additions to the bowling attack: Shakib’s gumption, Irshad’s incisiveness, Seales’ maturity, and the result has been a team that looks deeper, sharper, and more balanced than the one that started the season. Each home game has added a layer of resilience, and the record crowd support has given the Falcons the perfect tailwind.
The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons left for their away matches with more than just points. They carry momentum, confidence, and a top spot that sends a clear message to every rival: this is a team no longer feeling its way through the season. The challenge on the road is to turn their home comfort into away dominance.
The win over the Patriots in the derby was sweet, but what mattered most was what it represented: a team that tied the score, discovered winning strategies, and built a solid foundation to compete on the road ahead. The Falcons will face the Trinbago Knight Riders on August 27th at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the St. Lucia Kings on August 31st at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium, the Barbados Royals at Kensington Oval on September 5th, and the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium on September 10th.
The Falcons aren’t just flying, they’re soaring.