GAW, ABF lock horns in blockbuster clash for final spot

Story and Photos by Jemima Holmes in Barbados

One of the most crucial clashes of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026 season will unfold at the Kensington Oval in Barbados today as one team will book direct passage to Sunday’s final.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (ABF), having met twice already this season, have their records levelled 1-1.
GAW struck the first blow, chasing 117 in 9.5 overs after routing the Falcons cheaply at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua. However, ABF hit back at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, posting 182 and going on to rout the hosts for 117 for a 65-run win.
Now, with all things even, one of the two teams has a chance to make the season record 2-1.

Eyeing the second star
For GAW, coming off a loss hasn’t phased the tournament’s most consistent team this season.
“Well, I just think that we’ll forget about the past, you know, that game gone already, so there’s nothing to worry about that game. It’s just to come in the future game and just be prepared for whatever happens. This probably might be a new wicket than what we play on the last time, so when you get on that day, it’s just to adjust and to commit to whatever you go out there to do,” GAW’s frontline pacer Shamar Joseph said in an exclusive interview with this publication.
Joseph added, “I just think that we need to stay as a team, remain focused and adjust to conditions.”
According to the Baracara native, the Amazon Warriors remain quite confident.
“Well, the confidence is really good. You know, the last time we faced these guys, they defeated us, but that doesn’t push us back from achieving what we want as a team, and there’s a lot of confidence around the camp. Putting in the work now as a group,” he shared.
Meanwhile, for Glenn Phillips, the explosive all-rounder is appreciative of being able to get a feel of the Kensington conditions already.
Phillips related to the Guyana Times Sport, “I think winning one and losing one is always a good thing coming into finals. You have an opportunity to see what they do well and try and plan for it. Obviously, you know what you did well, so try and capitalise on those strengths for us.”
“And then I think from the Kensington Oval perspective, we did have an opportunity to see to spin from those slower deliveries. If it does come out and do the same thing, obviously, the Antigua bowlers are quite different, few more wrist spinners, they bowl a bit more cross-seam deliveries, and we saw from Imi there wasn’t quite as much turn as there was for the finger spinners. So, going out there and trying to adjust to what we get on the day but understanding that it might be a bit more of a fighting semifinal as opposed to where there’s a big high score going up,” the New Zealand international added.
With a chance to add another star to the GAW badge, both players remain hopeful the Guyanese franchise can pull it off.
Joseph candidly expressed, “I must say it’s an emotional week ahead; that’s all I can say. You know, I don’t want to overthink too much but just to take one step at a time. But I know that the feelings that we have in the camp is that there’s number two on the board for us, and we’re really excited about it. Just can’t wait for that day to reach to lift that trophy and go back home.”
On the other hand, Phillips divulged, “I think there’s always pressure when you come to finals time. It’s really just about the team that happens to show up on the day, I guess, play their best cricket, and it does come down to a one-off situation. So, hopefully, for us, going out there trying to adjust to everything on the fly.

If the wicket does play tough, try to adapt and then put a good score on the board if we do have to bat first; basically, just fight the whole way through and give it our all.”
“I know the fanbase that we’ve got is fantastic; they’ll be behind us the whole way, and I guess just going out there and giving it our best,” he added about ‘Warrior Nation’.

First-time finalist?
On the other hand, ABF have been growing in consistency over their few years as a franchise. Now, making the playoffs for a second consecutive season, the Falcons are looking forward to making their mark.
Captain Moeen Ali told Guyana Times Sport exclusively, “Obviously, very excited for the game against the top side, probably the best side in the whole competition. They’ve been outstanding, and we did really well to beat them at their place. But yeah, I wouldn’t say we’re super confident, but we know it’s a challenge, and we’re going to have to play really well to beat them. So, we’re preparing well and hopefully ready by Thursday.”
“I think the fact that we kept trying to take wickets and they were scoring pretty fast, but because we were taking wickets, we managed to stop them from scoring,” Ali said, reflecting on their last encounter in Guyana. “But they kept coming at us, which is what Guyana does; they’re so dangerous. Obviously, there’s a couple of key wickets that we need to try and get early. We managed to bat well, actually; we had a foundation and finished really well. So, it was a challenge, and it was tough, and we pour a lot into a win, but hopefully we can do it again.”
He added about his team’s key players, “Obviously, Shadab has been outstanding for us as an overseas to come and bowl and bat the way he has. We have a lot of leaders in the team; everyone’s really made an impact at some point, which is great for our side. We don’t know big superstar names on our side, but I would say, for me, Joshua James has been unbelievable for us. We’ve got some very good players who’ve all chipped in and impacted at some point, and that’s what you want from a team.”
“Nicko the coach, Kesh, Ambi, and the guys from the back-room staff have been outstanding, and they’ve really driven this culture in the side and made my life a little bit easier for me. I would say it’s all about improving for us. The challenge is now if we go through games and win those two games and lift that trophy for the first time. That would be amazing; that would be unbelievable for us,” Ali shared when quizzed about the possibility of making it into their first final this year.
The blockbuster clash between GAW and ABF will bowl off at 20:00h this evening.