August 23, 2025 – Last night at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was more than just cricket—it was history. A record-breaking crowd roared from the stands, painting the ground in a sea of Antiguan and Barbudan pride while waves of Guyanese passion surged back in reply. It was a stadium of colours, turning the night into pure spectacle.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss, elected to bat and posted a towering 211. From the very first ball, the Warriors announced their intentions not just to win, but to dominate. Shai Hope played like a man possessed, striking with the poise of a craftsman and the ferocity of a plunderer. His 82 from 54 balls was less an innings and more a statement, a warning shot to the rest of the league that Guyana’s batting arsenal is locked, loaded, and lethal.

But the absolute devastation came in the final overs, when Shimron Hetmyer turned the stadium into his personal fireworks display. His unbeaten 65 off just 26 balls felt like a T20 masterclass compressed into a single innings: a blur of sweet timing, brutal power, and a swagger that made every shot a dagger to the Falcons’ hopes. By the time Romario Shepherd chipped in with his cameo, the Warriors hadn’t just batted; they had imposed their will.

For ten blistering overs, the Falcons had the mighty Warriors rattled. And then came Imran Tahir.  At 46 years old, the veteran leg-spinner proved once again why age is merely a number when greatness meets guile. His figures of 5 for 21 weren’t just match-winning, they were historic, etching his name into CPL folklore as the oldest bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20 cricket. Each wicket was a dagger, each celebration a reminder that passion burns brighter than the passing of years. For the Falcons, Tahir was less a bowler and more a storm, unpredictable and devastating.

For the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons wickets fell in clusters, partnerships dissolved before they began, and despite a brief spark from Karima Gore and Bevon Jacobs, the Falcons never settled into the chase. All out for 128 in just over 15 overs, they were humbled on home soil.

Captain Imad Wasim said it plainly: “If we had wickets in hand, we would have taken it deeper, and then anything can happen.” And he’s right. The Falcons weren’t beaten for lack of courage. They were undone by a cluster of wickets and the brilliance of a 45-year-old magician.

This defeat will not define Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ run in this tournament. The talons got some bruising, but the unit stayed positive and aggressive to the end. With one more home game on the horizon, a day clash grudge match against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, the Falcons have no time to wallow. 

The home fans will rally again, because that’s what Antiguans do. But the lesson is etched: in the CPL, brilliance can arrive in a single spell, and in this game of glorious uncertainties, the Falcons work to ensure its on their side.

And a massive highlight of the night: Antigua showed up and stood tall. A record Sir Viv crowd split in colours, Antigua pride vs Guyana passion.  Antigua & Barbuda won something even bigger: the world saw the nation’s cricket heartbeat thundering louder than ever before.

And the rallying cry is already building. The message is simple: we believe, we adapt, and we rise again. In Antigua, cricket is not just a game, it’s a movement. And the Falcons are still flying. This season is still young, and momentum in the CPL can shift as quickly as a power play. One bad night does not define a campaign.

Up Falcons! Antigua, let’s pack Sir Vivi again and turn belief into victory. We can do it