Republic Bank CPL…Falcons hand Warriors 1st defeat of CPL season

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons brought the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW)’s unbeaten run in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to an unceremonious end, securing a 65-run victory in Match 30 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Tuesday night.
GAW Captain Imran Tahir won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping his side could maintain its winning streak in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. However, the Falcons produced a commanding performance with both bat and ball to hand the Warriors their first defeat of the tournament.
Karima Gore provided the Falcons with a blistering start, showcasing some excellent stroke-play before his innings ended on 23 from 18 balls. Attempting a slog sweep, Gore was caught by Rahmanullah Gurbaz inside the 30-yard circle, giving Khary Pierre his first wicket of the night.

The Falcons reached 44 for one at the end of the powerplay and continued to build a solid platform. Evin Lewis looked promising before being trapped leg before wicket by Tahir for 22 from 18 balls, leaving the visitors 55 for two after eight overs.
At the halfway stage, the Falcons had progressed to 69 for two, with Amir Jangoo and Hassan Nawaz calmly rebuilding the innings. The pair added 47 before Mohammed Nabi broke the partnership, with Jangoo caught by Shimron Hetmyer at long-off for 27 from 30 balls.
Tahir completed his four-over spell at the end of the 16th over with impressive figures of one for 21, as the Falcons moved to 118 for three with four overs remaining.
Nawaz then attempted to accelerate the scoring but fell for 36 from 27 balls, including three fours and two sixes, as Shamar Joseph claimed his first wicket.
Moeen Ali briefly threatened to take control, smashing Romario Shepherd for two huge sixes, but Shepherd had the final say when he dismissed the all-rounder.
The Falcons gained further momentum in the 19th over when Joseph conceded 19 runs. His difficult outing continued when he dropped Shadab Khan, who made the Warriors pay by striking three sixes and a four in an unbeaten 30.

Shadab took 26 runs from Shepherd’s final over as the Falcons closed their 20 overs on 182 for five, setting the Warriors 183 for victory.
The Warriors made a flying start to their chase, with Gurbaz particularly aggressive, dealing in boundaries and sixes. However, Alzarri Joseph soon changed the complexion of the innings, removing Gurbaz for 18 from just eight balls.
Joseph struck again in the same over when Shai Hope top-edged a delivery to Moeen Ali and departed without scoring.
Young Mavendra Dindyal showed composure under pressure and continued to find the boundary, but Joseph completed his hat-trick of wickets when Dindyal chipped a delivery to mid-on for 25 from 13 balls, including two fours and two sixes.
Joshua James then made an immediate impact with his first delivery, dismissing Shimron Hetmyer for four and leaving the Warriors four wickets down inside the powerplay. At the end of six overs, the home side were 71 for four.
Shadab Khan joined the wicket-taking spree, dismissing Quentin Sampson for 12, before Sufiyan Muqeem removed Romario Shepherd as the Warriors slipped to 81 for six.
Khan claimed his second wicket of the night when he bowled Dwaine Pretorius for one, while Shamar Joseph and Tahir failed to last long as the Warriors’ collapse continued.
They were reduced to 117 for nine after 14 overs, with Alzarri Joseph completing an outstanding four-over spell with four for 41.
Joshua James then capped the Falcons’ impressive all-round performance by trapping Nabi’s leg before wicket for 23, bowling GAW out for 117 in 14.2 overs.
The Falcons therefore completed a convincing 65-run victory, ending the Warriors’ unbeaten run and handing the home side their first defeat of the 2026 Republic Bank CPL campaign.