A disciplined bowling performance followed by handy knocks from Justin Greaves and Imad Wasim saw Antigua and Barbuda Falcons pull off the double on Trinbago Knight Riders in CPL 2024 with a six-wicket win on Thursday. Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (ABF) all-rounder Imad Wasim was involved in a massive controversial incident during the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) clash against the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR). The match between the two teams took place at Port of Spain in Trinidad on Thursday (19th September).
Imad Wasim played a vital role for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (ABF) in the game against Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR). The all-rounder came up with the match-winning effort for his team with the bat as he ensured that he stayed there till the end and helped his team win the game by a big margin.
Pitch and Toss
Pitch Report: Talking about the dimensions, it’s 65m to my left and 62m to my right and it’s a 73m hit down the ground. The surface here looks really good tonight, a little better than the one last night. The overnight rain hasn’t really affected it. The dry nature of the surface suggests that it may spin a little. I feel that 150 will once again be a good total and batting second might be the way to go, reckons Simon Doull
Toss : Antigua and Barbuda Falcons skipper Chris Green won the toss and chose to field with 3 changes in the Playing XI. Trinbago Knight Riders skipper Kieron Pollard batting first made two changes in his playing XI as Terrance Hinds and Dwayne Bravo misses out.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons bowlers hunt in pair to restrict TKR to 134.
Put in to bat, TKR managed a sub-par 134 courtesy of some late hitting by Kieron Pollard. Greaves dropped anchor in the modest chase after losing two partners cheaply, and contributions of 36 each from Hassan Khan and Imad Wasim helped them to their third win of the season.
Mohammad Amir took all of five balls to send the dangerous Sunil Narine back in the opening over, and Shaqkere Parris departed soon after, leaving TKR at 29/2. That became 42/4 two and a half overs after their modest powerplay with Keacy Carty and Nicholas Pooran departing without making a significant impact.
Tim David and Pollard combined for a 40-run stand to temporarily pull them out of the rut. The pair took the attack to left-arm spinner Hassan Khan, carting him for three sixes between them, before calamity struck once again. Fabian Allen struck decisive blows by taking out a well set David and the big-hitting Andre Russell off successive deliveries, the latter bagging a golden duck.
Pollard was forced to rebuild from 82/6, and it wasn’t until the penultimate over that he could free his arms again. Amir leaked 22 in the over, including two sixes from Pollard, and even though he got out next over, TKR managed a semi-decent score because of their skipper’s brief assault at the fag end.
Imad Wasim amidst on field drama leads Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to win over TKR.
The target of 135 wasn’t a tall ask though, but Falcons lost two of their top-three in under four overs with just 15 on the board. Greaves dug in, joining’s hands with Hassan for a 53-run partnership that brought the chase back on track. That is, until Narine had the latter stumped to provide a timely breakthrough.
Drama ensued the very next ball. Imad Wasim was shockingly given LBW by the third umpire even when the replays showed a clear inside edge. The decision was then reversed and Imad called back only to find out that the player has crossed the ropes. The confusion took a good ten minutes to be cleared out with several players and coaches miffed for different reasons before the play could resume.
Nevertheless, the wicket-maiden from Narine left Falcons needing 67 more at the halfway mark. Imad and Greaves added 49 for the partnership before the Falcons decided to retire out the latter, who was struggling, with 18 needed off the last 12. Imad, however, hit Joshua Little for as many to polish off the chase eventually with an over to spare.
There was another significant moment of drama involving Imad as the Pakistan all-rounder while going for a brace saw the ball deflect off his bat to the fence, thereby giving his side six runs off a ball when 15 were needed off 10 balls prior to that. TKR objected and wanted a review as they felt that Imad had deliberately obstructed the throw and deflected the bat. Rules don’t allow to check for the latter but obstruction was checked by the third ump and cleared, adding to the frustration of Pollard and co.
During his innings, Imad Wasim also was involved in a controversial incident that caught the attention of many. While playing against Sunil Narine, the Pakistan all-rounder was hit on the pad on the very first ball that he faced. Despite the appeal by the opposition team, the umpire didn’t give him out
But TKR skipper Kieron Pollard opted for DRS and the ultra edge showed a spike. But the bat was very close to the pad, the chance of an edge was ruled out. The ball tracking then showed three reds, the on-field decision was reversed and Imad Wasim was left confused.
Imad Wasim was then seen having a conversation with the umpire, but nothing worked in his favor as he was given out and took the long walk back to the pavilion. While walking back, he fumed at the umpires and then went straight to the fourth umpire after crossing the boundary rope.
Even ABF coach Sir Curtly Ambrose looked very angry but after all the drama, the on-field umpire then received communication from the third umpire to reverse the decision. This saw Imad Wasim returning to the bat and then it was Trinbago Knight Riders players who looked extremely angry.
Imad Wasim and TKR skipper Kieron Pollard had a heated argument, and there was a delay of 10 minutes as well. The play was then finally resumed and the ball was adjudged a dot ball.
The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons won the match against Trinbago Knight Riders by 6 wickets. The Falcons chased down 135 runs to win the game. Justin Greaves scored 46, Hassan Khan scored 36, and Imad Wasim remained not out at 36. TKR struggled to build a competitive total and ended with 134/8.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Kieron Pollard the losing skipper said : The Falcons played really well. These things happen in cricket and we move on from that. (On the 10th over of the second innings) If I speak, I’m getting into trouble so I would stay diplomatic. The fans came out in numbers and they supported us. We will look to bounce back stronger.
Chris Green the winning skipper said : Look, really proud of the boys, we bowled really well, with the exception of my dropped catch off the last ball, we fielded exceptionally well. Just the way Greaves and Imad batted, it was great. The word is heart and character. There’s a lot of talk going on that we are going to get rolled over but to win twice against TKR is special. They are a dangerous side with good players but we showed today that they are very beatable.
(On the 10th over) Absolute chaos, it was given out but it shouldn’t have. He (Imad) walked off the field, he shouldn’t have but he was asked to. Then, we had a Ben Stokes incident (19th over) as well. Really happy with the win, I think we outplayed them in all aspects
Justin Greaves was Player of the Match for his all round show said : To win two games against them (TKR) is great, playing and winning at Queen’s Park Oval is a special feeling for the team. I feel good when my team wins, we got over the line, it’s very pleasing.
Just happy with how things panned out for us, to get a win against Trinidad in Trinidad, it’s a special feeling. We have to take one game at a time. We go off to Guyana and this might be the start of something special, you never know.
Just the third win for ABF in 9 games this season. And two have come against TKR. Much-needed for ABF too. Nice to see Pollard pat Imad Wasim on the head after all that happened earlier. Coming to the chase, Greaves played anchor and his partnership with Hassan Khan set his side on the way before a major controversy erupted when Imad Wasim was given out when he inside-edged one on to pad, he was off the field of play, when he was called back.
That stopped play for 10 minutes as chats and clarifications followed. Greaves was struggling at the backend of his knock and he was retired out. Imad Wasim though kept his cool and smashed a few boundaries when it was needed to take his side home with 6 balls to spare. TKR did not bowl or field well and therefore they couldn’t defend a low score. Tonight’s win keeps the Falcons alive in the competition. The visitors were switched on throughout the game and deserved this win. It was a bad day at the office for the Knight Riders.