Fabien Allen’s all-round brilliance proved to be the difference, as he contributed both with the bat and the ball to ensure ABF defended their total of 176/6 in a nail-biting finish. In a gripping contest at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (ABF) clinched a thrilling 6-run victory over Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in Match 8 of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024.
Fabien Allen was the star of the show. He scored a quickfire 25 and picked up three key-scalps along with two catches in the victory. Key contributions by Imad Wasim (46), Fakhar Zaman (38) and Mohammad Amir (1-24 in 4 overs) helped the Falcons win their final game at home.
Pitch Report and Toss
Weather feels fantastic at 27 degrees Celsius. 61 and 64 meter square boundary, 73 meters straight. Pitch has been good all the way through. Few cracks. But need to put up better scores in the first innings.
Trinbago Knight Riders skipper Kieron Pollard won the toss and chose to bowl first with Couple of changes – Gous gets an opportunity. Hossein and Russell into the Playing XI. Antigua and Barbuda Falcons skipper Chris Green batting first made no changes in his playing XI.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons post a competitive total
After losing the toss and being put in to bat, ABF put up a competitive total of 176/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Fakhar Zaman and Justin Greaves provided a solid foundation with a 66-run opening partnership. Zaman scored a fluent 38 off 26 balls, while Greaves added a quickfire 37 off 19 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Imad Wasim then anchored the middle order, playing a vital knock of 46 runs off 29 balls, which included 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. Fabien added the finishing touches with a blistering 25 off just 11 balls, helping ABF to reach a competitive total. Sunil Narine and Waqar Salamkheil were the standout bowlers for TKR, each picking up two wickets. Narine’s 4 overs yielded 2/32, while Salamkheil finished with figures of 2/27. Despite their efforts, ABF’s middle-order contributions helped them post a challenging target.
Put in to bat, Zaman and Justin Greaves walked out for the Falcons. Both the openers started at fourth gear as Greaves lofted Akeal Hossein for a maximum over extra-cover. Zaman got away with a short-ball which went over fine-leg but his partner was dropped couple of overs later, at the exact same position. A flurry of boundaries in the fifth over saw the Falcons race past the 50-mark, and it was their first 50-run opening stand this tournament.
Sunil Narine broke the partnership as Greaves was stumped. The Knight Riders were poor in the field as they dropped a few catches and missed a few run-out chances. Waqar Salamkheil dismissed the dangerous Zaman, as he sliced one to short-third. Roshon Primus was put out of his misery for a 26-ball 19 as he chopped one onto the stumps. This had undone the quick start the Falcons had in the PowerPlay.
On the other hand, Wasim was looking dangerous having got his eye in. The left-hander pumped Narine for a six and a four, before taking Salamkheil out of the park in the next over. Fabien Allen completed the rescue act with a cameo of 25, laden with two fours and a six. Wasim fell off the penultimate ball, holing out to mid-off.
Fabien Allen shines with the ball as Trinbago Knight Riders fall short in the chase by 6 runs
TKR’s chase got off to a shaky start with the early dismissals of Sunil Narine and Nicholas Pooran, leaving them at 2/7 in the second over. Andries Gous and Shaqkere Parris then steadied the innings with a 62-run partnership, but their slow progress meant that the required rate began to climb.
Keacy Carty and Kieron Pollard played explosive cameos to bring TKR back into the game, with Carty smashing 34 off 22 balls, including 4 sixes, and Pollard contributing a quickfire 30 off 15 balls. However, crucial breakthroughs from Fabien Allen and Roshon Primus kept the pressure on TKR, and the Knight Riders eventually fell short, managing 170/9 in their 20 overs.
In response, the Knight Riders lost Narine for a duck, caught in the deep. Amir bowled three quiet overs for only twelve runs in the PowerPlay. Andries Gous and Shaqkere Parris laid into Wasim with three sixes and a four across two overs. The Knight Riders brought up the 50-mark as the two continued to be attacking against left-arm spin, this time the recipient being Fabien Allen. The batting side were well poised after nine overs at 71 for 1 as the current partnership of 61 runs was going strong.
However, the two managed to add only one more run together as Parris was trapped in front by Fabien Allen. The bowler dismissed Pooran next ball, with a stunning catch off his own bowling in an eventful 10th over. The left-arm spinner Fabien Allen continued to prize through the batting order as the set Gous pulled a short delivery straight to deep mid-wicket.
Primus however, didn’t have the same luck as Fabien Allen. Kieron Pollard and Keacy Carty smashed him for two sixes and a four in an 18-run over. Carty continued to turn the screws in the Knight Riders favour as he clinched two more sixes against Wasim straight down the ground. Amir came back and rounded off his excellent spell as he dismissed the dangerous Pollard.
With 33 to get from the last three overs, Andre Russell smashed Primus for six but a mis-hit followed which was grasped by the sublime Fabien Allen. Carty followed him back to the pavilion as he was caught behind off Shamar Springer in the next over.
It came down to 14 runs off the last over and Hossein smashed Primus for four. But the bowler cleaned up Terrence Hinds leaving Hossein stranded at the other end. With eight required off two balls, Akeal Hossein was run out which was followed by a dot-ball as the Falcons completed their first win of the campaign.
Having already made a vital contribution with the bat, Fabien Allen delivered a match-winning performance with the ball, taking 3/23 in his 4 overs. Fabien Allen’s timely breakthroughs, including the key wicket of Kieron Pollard, derailed TKR’s chase and earned him the Player of the Match award. Primus also chipped in with two wickets, while Mohammad Amir and Chris Green picked up one wicket each to restrict TKR.
Presentation and Road Ahead
Kieron Pollard the losing skipper said : It was a good game of cricket. Just felt we let ourselves down a bit. We have to play the emerging players – that rule is there for a reason (smiles). But you saw the way he (Parris) batted, he had some elegance and character. It is about giving opportunities (to the emerging players) as well.
It is early in the tournament. When we get to Trinidad, the games will come thick and fast. We have a couple of days off, so we will travel, take some rest and then get back to practice. There is a good bunch of experienced guys who understand the nature of travelling and cricket.
Chris Green the winning skipper said : We have had a tough time here at home, we were not at our best in the last couple of games. The way we finished, bringing four in and then three in and then getting a man sent off, I think they got the timings wrong. (On losing the toss again) Luck has not been on my side, really happy for the fans and for my team.
The thing that makes me so happy was that Primus, Springer and Amir, they have had some tough times but the character and the bravery they showed, when nothing was going their way, that was serious character. We still have to carry on playing this positive, aggressive brand of cricket. I think we showed ourselves what we can do. Nothing needs to change. We know the equation is simple and we need to apply our knowledge (for the rest of the games on the road).
Fabien Allen Player of the Match for his all round show said : We were searching for that win and grateful we got it tonight. (On him batting higher up) Whatever the team requires, I will bat there. (On the catch to dismiss Pooran) When you take catches of one of the best players, you have to celebrate and I am grateful (I could take it).
I just wanted to bowl in the right areas and got the results. We were searching for 180 but 170-odd is good on this wicket, we defended well. (On the crowd) Grateful for the crowd, they supported us right through.
The Falcons beat the mighty Knight Riders. They defied all odds tonight – of beating a stronger team on paper, of defending a not-so big total on a pretty good batting surface, of finding a way out despite key bowlers getting hit, of managing to win despite only being allowed to have three fielders outside the ring at the fag end of their defence. It’s a win inspired by one man – Fabien Allen. It was his 11-ball 25 that pushed the score to 176. It was his three key wickets that turned the tide for the Falcons when the Knight Riders were coasting to victory.
He instilled belief. Sir Curtly Ambrose gave them an animated chat in the drinks break when Fabien Allen broke the 62-run second wicket stand. Next ball he took a stunning return reflex catch and the roof came off at Antigua because it was Pooran walking back for a golden duck. They believed this was possible. They hung in there despite Gous, Carty and Pollard threatening and they have their first win of the season.
The Falcons do a lap of honor to their fans who have stuck with them despite a poor start to the season. Sir Vivian Richards is doing the walk too. It’s party time in Antigua! The caravan stays in St Kitts and St Lucia for the next phase. Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana will then take the baton. The Patriots host the Royals tomorrow.