In a standout Tuesday night clash at Providence Stadium in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons delivered a masterclass in controlled aggression to hand the previously undefeated Guyana Amazon Warriors their first loss of the campaign, wrapping up a comprehensive 65-run victory that booked their spot in the tournament’s Qualifier 1.
Sent into bat first after winning the toss, the Falcons built their innings patiently through the opening 15 overs before launching a devastating late-innings attack. Contributions from Hasan Nawaz, who hammered 36 runs off 27 deliveries, laid a solid foundation for the middle order, and it was all-rounder Shadab Khan who stole the show with a blistering, unbeaten 30 runs from only nine balls. The Falcons piled on a massive 72 runs in the final five overs of their allocation, closing out their 20 overs at 182 for five wickets and setting the unbeaten Warriors a steep target of 183 to win.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors’ chase fell apart almost from the first over, as Antiguan pace bowler Alzarri Joseph tore through the team’s top order, leaving the Warriors reeling early on. Joseph finished his four-over spell with an impressive four wickets for just 41 runs, putting the Falcons firmly in control of the match. Shadab Khan continued his impactful performance with the ball, claiming two additional wickets for only 19 runs, effectively killing off any chance of a Guyana comeback.
By the 14.2 over, the Warriors were bowled out for just 117 runs, confirming a 65-run defeat for the side and ending their six-match unbeaten winning streak. For his game-changing contributions with both bat and ball, Shadab Khan was named the Player of the Match.
Beyond ending the Warriors’ undefeated run, the result also locked in a top-two finish for the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons on the tournament standings, earning them a direct place in Qualifier 1 as they continue their push for the Caribbean Premier League title.