Left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad starred with 3/18 to restrict Falcons to a modest 142/7 – the lowest total in the CPL this season. Afghanistan has emerged as one of the top cricketing nations in recent years, producing exceptional players. This was evident in a recent CPL match between Antigua and Barbuda Falcons and Saint Lucia Kings, where Noor Ahmad‘s brilliant spin bowling dismantled the Antigua middle order.
The standout performance in Saint Lucia Kings’ bowling attack came from Noor Ahmad, whose deceptive spin and clever variations left the opposition baffled. Ahmad’s 4-over spell yielded 3 wickets for just 18 runs, a key factor in restricting Antigua and Barbuda to a modest total of 142/7.
Pitch and Toss
Nice windy conditions – 59m and 65 m square boundaries, the straight boundary is 73m, we’re playing at the same pitch as the other night. The wind will play its part, the pitch is nice and hard, the bounce will be consistent with the ball coming on nicely. You can play your shots on this wicket and the wind will be a factor, with batters hitting it into the wind from one side, reckons Samuel Badree, in his pitch report.
Saint Lucia Kings skipper Faf Du Plessis won the toss and, recognizing the conditions that favored bowlers early on, opted to bowl first with one change in the squad . This decision proved to be spot-on as their bowlers quickly found rhythm and applied pressure on the Antigua and Barbuda batsmen whose skipper Chris Green after losing the toss batting first made one change in the playing XI bringing in Justin Greaves for Hayden Walsh
Antigua and Barbuda innings surrenders to Noor Ahmad’s magical spell
Antigua and Barbuda, put into bat, struggled to build a solid foundation as they lost wickets at regular intervals. The innings began with Fakhar Zaman and Justin Greaves opening the batting. While Zaman managed to score 21 runs off 17 balls, his stay at the crease was cut short as he attempted to accelerate the scoring rate. Greaves, the top scorer for Antigua and Barbuda, played a gritty knock of 36 runs off 26 balls, including 5 fours, providing some stability at the top.
However, the middle order failed to capitalize on the start. Kofi James and Jewel Andrew could only muster 5 and 15 runs, respectively, as they found it difficult to handle the disciplined bowling from Saint Lucia Kings. Imad Wasim made a valiant attempt to anchor the innings, scoring 29 not out off 23 balls, but Antigua and Barbuda struggled to find the boundaries consistently.
The standout performance in Saint Lucia Kings’ bowling attack came from Noor Ahmad, whose deceptive spin and clever variations left the opposition baffled. Noor Ahmad’s 4-over spell yielded 3 wickets for just 18 runs, a key factor in restricting Antigua and Barbuda to a modest total of 142/7.
The home side were unable to capitalize on a promising start from new opening partners Fakhar Zaman and Justin Greaves as their innings fell away after the PowerPlay.
Left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad starred with 3/18 to restrict Falcons to a modest 142/7 – the lowest total in the CPL this season. Assistant coach Curtly Ambrose provided a passionate rallying cry for his team, but the Falcons attack struggled against the Kings’ firepower as opener Johnson Charles anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 46 balls.
A desperate Falcons had been sent in to bat in windy conditions. Greaves, in his season debut, tried to provide a tonic and smashed a second ball boundary while Zaman soon found his rhythm with a stunning straight six off seamer Matthew Forde. But their blossoming 35-run partnership was broken when Zaman was well caught by a running Khary Pierre, who shortly afterwards clean bowled Kofi James. Pierre continued to be part of the action when he caught a skier from Greaves, who fell on 36 after he gamely tried to hit into the breeze.
The Falcons were shackled by disciplined bowling in the middle overs, unable to hit boundaries as their innings flamed out to 142 for 7 in 20 overs
Johnson Charles and Faf Du Plessis star in easy win for the Kings
Faf Du Plessis made batting look easy and whacked quick Shamar Springer for three boundaries and a six in the second over. He smashed 28 in his first 11 deliveries before falling in the first over from spinner Imad Wasim.
The wicket of du Plessis and a brief rain delay at North Sound did not stop Kings’ momentum as Charles and Bhanuka Rajapaksa bludgeoned monstrous sixes. Captain Chris Green took it upon himself to revive the Falcons with the wicket of Rajapaksa in the eighth over.
But in Green’s next over when he dropped a return chance to reprieve Ackeem Auguste on the last ball before drinks. A rampant Tim Seifert finished off the match in style with a six as Kings made an early season statement.
Chasing 143 for victory, Saint Lucia Kings approached the target with confidence. Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis opened the innings and provided a solid start. Charles played a measured knock, scoring 47 runs off 46 balls, including 1 four and 3 sixes. His knock provided the stability needed at the top, allowing his partners to play with more freedom.
Faf Du Plessis, on the other hand, played an aggressive cameo, smashing 28 runs off just 15 balls, with 5 fours and 1 six, setting the tone for the chase. Though Bhanuka Rajapaksa was dismissed for 9 runs, the momentum remained with Saint Lucia Kings. The real finishing touch was provided by Tim Seifert, whose blistering knock of 26 runs off 11 balls, featuring 3 sixes and 1 four, ensured there were no late hiccups. Saint Lucia Kings reached the target comfortably, finishing at 144/3 in just 17 overs.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Faf Du Plessis the winning skipper said : Clinical performance, was surprised by the pitch, looked good in the last few games, but today was slow and two-paced, You need to show intensity in the powerplay, that’s the mistake you can do when you chase small scores, a couple of wickets and the pressure is back on you. We wanted to break the back of the chase and that’s what I told Charles as well.
I have known him for a bit now (on Noor Ahmad), very impressive and he’s very difficult to pick, he has plenty of variations and knows how to bowl against powerful strikers. Tim (Seifert) as well, was unfortunate that Klassen didn’t come, but you need players with power here in the Caribbean. There’s a lot of optimism in the island after the Olympics, two out of two and we’ve that fire in our belly to do well.
Chris Green the losing skipper said : I think it was a similar story with the bat in all 4 games, the middle overs, the opposition bowling has been good, but we’ve got stuck and have been unable to push on, 170 would have been a par score, this wasn’t a great wicket, but I still think we were 10-15 runs short.
We know the equation, we need to win 5 out of 6, want to win our last game here for our hometown, the atmosphere in the team is good and we want to finish well. He has been outstanding (on Curtly Ambrose), he has the passion, the fire in the belly and he really takes care of us, he wants us to do well and that’s what we want to do for him.
Noor Ahmad Player of the Match for his 3 wickets said : It’s been a pleasure to be playing in the CPL, under different conditions and I’m trying to give my best to the team. I had a good partnership with the rest of the bowlers and I enjoyed it, the atmosphere is good and we’re all trying to give our best for the team.
Seifert’s blitz has ensured that the Stars haven’t just won, they’ve won with plenty to spare and that’ll do them good in terms of net run-rate. They were always ahead of the game with Faf du Plessis picking up handy boundaries through the powerplay period. Johnson Charles, at the other end, was scratchy, but he hung around.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa fell cheaply, but young Ackeem Auguste impressed with his 27 before Seifert finished it off in a hurry. The Falcons didn’t have too many runs to play with and unlike the Stars, their spinners didn’t impress, neither did the pacers with Amir and Springer going the distance. It hasn’t been a happy homecoming for the Falcons as they slip to their 4th straight loss, the Stars make it two out of two.
Falcon’s homecoming in the 2024 edition of the CPL is going from bad to worse. Four losses out of 4 games and they’ve one last match here in Antigua against the Trinbago Knight Riders.