In a pulsating Caribbean Premier League contest that swung like a pendulum until the very last ball, the St Lucia Kings held their nerve to defeat the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by four runs in a high-octane finish at the Arnos Vale Ground here Sunday night.
Chasing a competitive 188 for victory, the Falcons looked destined to cruise to back-to-back wins, with the match predictor at one stage giving them a near-90% chance. But cricket, in its cruellest form, had other plans. The chase came down to the final over with 13 runs required, and when the dust settled, it was Kings’ seamer Matthew Forde who emerged as the coolest man in the stadium, conceding just eight runs to seal a dramatic victory.
The Falcons’ reply began with intent, as Evin Lewis and Rahkeem Cornwall tore into the Kings’ new-ball attack, racing past 30 inside the first three overs.
Cornwall fell soon after to Maheesh Theekshana for 27, but Lewis continued his assault, propelling the Falcons to 65 in the powerplay and a commanding 109 at the halfway mark, despite Theekshana striking again when he got rid of Tim Robinson for 30.
Lewis looked set for a match-winning knock until the 11th over, when left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop got him to hold out to a nervy Darren Need in the deep for a well-constructed 48 off just 24 balls.
That triggered a mini-collapse. Skipper Roston Chase decided to turn his arm over with his off-spin, and he sent back Karima Gore for two and Tajinder Singh for 21 in quick succession, and by the 16th over, the Falcons had stumbled to 142 for 5, needing 46 from the final four overs.
The 17th and 18th overs produced just 13 runs between them, turning the screws on coach Paul Nixon’s men.
Skipper Fabian Allen, with 28 not out, was at the crease, but he managed to face only two deliveries in the final over, as Jahmar Hamilton, who had struggled through a 10-off-20-ball innings at a critical juncture, was unable to rotate strike.
Hamilton eventually got run out, but Shamar Springer, despite hitting a four, could not come up with the goods as Forde kept his lengths immaculate, and the Falcons fell agonisingly short, finishing on 183 for 7.
Earlier, Kings captain Roston Chase won the toss and elected to bat, and it was Player of the Match Andries Gous who anchored the innings with a masterful 82 off 51 balls.
The American wicketkeeper-batter took strike from the very first ball and batted through to the 18th over, holding the innings together even as wickets tumbled around him.
Ackeem Auguste was the only other batter to offer meaningful resistance with a laboured 18 off 20 balls at No. 3, as the Falcons’ bowling attack kept striking at regular intervals.
Alzarri Joseph continued his fine form with figures of 3 for 32, following his 3 for 34 in the tournament opener, while Springer chipped in with 2 for 39.
But Gous’s timely boundaries and clever rotation ensured the Kings posted a defendable 187 for 8.