Jamaica Kingsmen vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons Final Full Commentary

Finally, we are back for the run chase. The umpires are back out in the middle, and so are the players of Jamaica Kingsmen, who are being marshalled by Rovman Powell. It will be the pairing of Evin Lewis and Rahkeem Cornwall to open the innings for Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. It will be Saim Ayub to kick things off with the ball, with his off-spin. Let's go...

The chase is about to get underway soon, but let's turn our attention to something different. The Caribbean Premier League has just announced the 'CPL Hall of Fame,' and Dwayne Bravo is the first-ever inductee. Bravo is an all-time T20 great, not just in the CPL but all across the globe, and Trinbago Knight Riders even retired his jersey number 47 as a gesture. Along with Bravo, commentator Ian Bishop was also inducted into the CPL Hall of Fame as its first-ever non-player. He received the induction for lending his voice to plenty of great moments throughout the history of this competition.

... The Run Chase ...

A thrilling chase on the cards - Righto, 171 is the target for the Falcons. The Kensington Oval is generally a chasing ground, and one would think that the pitch will get better for batting in the second half, especially if there's dew. However, runs on the board in a final matter more than usual, so that will even things out a bit more. Can Antigua & Barbuda Falcons clinch their first CPL title? Or will Jamaica Kingsmen lift the trophy in their debut season as a franchise? We shall find out soon. For now, you can enjoy the half-time show. See you in a bit for the chase.

Let's hear from Jamaica's saviour - Maaz Sadaqat opens by expressing immense happiness after breaking and setting multiple records on such a high-stakes match day. Reflecting on his performance, he shares credit with the team management for giving him the freedom to play his natural game, which allowed him to successfully execute his personal game plan out in the middle.When asked about the middle-order collapse where wickets tumbled at the other end, he admits feeling the pressure but emphasizes that maintaining self-belief and waiting patiently for the right balls to attack pulled him through. He ends by sharing his thoughts on the overall CPL environment, noting that as a tournament debutant, he is thoroughly enjoying his first stint in the league.

Moqim, the game-changer - Antigua & Barbuda Falcons started decently with the ball as Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales both got an early wicket, but let things slip towards the end of the Powerplay. They failed to get their teeth into the game for a few more overs, but once Sufyan Moqim was introduced into the attack in the 12th over, things changed drastically. Moqim went on to claim 4 wickets, including a couple of big scalps. Towards the end, the pacers did a decent job of closing things out and Alzarri Joseph also picked up two wickets in total. Shadab Khan showed great control in the middle phase and overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag of a performance from the Falcons' bowlers.

Sadaqat stands tall - Maaz Sadaqat made plenty of history en route to a sensational 114 off just 58 balls. He's now made two centuries in the playoffs of this CPL season and it is the first time a Pakistani batter has scored a century in the final of a T20 League, as mentioned by the on-air commentators. Apart from Maaz, only Saim Ayub showed some fight and mustered up some runs. No one else even got into double digits, and yet the Kingsmen have a pretty decent score on the board. However, going from 97/2 after 10 overs to 170/9 at the end of 20 overs is a bit of a collapse for sure.

An engrossing first half - Well, that lasted a long time, but probably worth it. The first innings takes nearly 2 hours to complete, and at the halfway mark, things are nicely balanced. Remember, the highest chase in a CPL Final is 162, so Jamaica Kingsmen will be happy with 170 runs on the board.

Vitel Lawes is the last batter in for Jamaica Kingsmen.

Shamar Springer to bowl for the first time in the final, and he'll directly bowl the final over of the first innings. Surprising move, given Jayden Seales has overs up his sleeve.

Who comes in next? It's Hunain Shah.

Alzarri Joseph returns to finish his spell.

That's all folks! The fireworks go off, and the celebrations will continue long into the night for Antigua & Barbuda Falcons. What a season, and what a win for this franchise. After a turbulent start and injury concerns, they had to bring in players at different stages of the competition, and all those players who came in played their part brilliantly. Yet another season of the hip and happening CPL has come to an end, and we hope that you all enjoyed our coverage as much as we did bringing it to you. Until next season then, take care and goodbye!

There's only one thing left to do now. Moeen Ali collects the trophy from the Prime Minister and the President of Barbados and Antigua, respectively, and joins his teammates on the podium for the celebration.

The title-winning skipper of the Falcons - Moeen Ali says that it has been a tough journey for all the players and coaching staff, but it has been a fruitful and enjoyable journey, and he feels that the toss was crucial. He adds that the game which they lost in Saint Lucia, almost managing to defend 57 or so in 10 overs, galvanized their season and mentions that the players gave it their all. On the decision to bring in Jayden Seales for Fabian Allen in the final, he says that the way Maaz Sadaqat was playing, they wanted two seamers to open with the ball and not a spinner from one end. Goes on to say that 170 is a pretty good score in the final, but with the dew coming in and their players getting excellent starts, it all helped. He also lauds the knock of Amir Jangoo as it was the final piece of the puzzle, and also goes on to give thanks to all the coaching staff. He ends by saying that they have had amazing fans and this title is for the people of Antigua, and they are proud of their achievement.

It is now time for the players of Antigua & Barbuda Falcons to receive their winner's medals. Moeen Ali is the first to get the medal and chimes in for a chat...

Rovman Powell of the Kingsmen - Powell opens by acknowledging his side's valiant effort, stating that while they fought hard, they fell short of getting the ultimate result. Despite the defeat, he emphasized that he remains very proud of his players and pleased with the overall performance and determination shown by his team. Reflecting on the match, Powell feels their first-innings total of 170 fell 10 to 15 runs short on a good batting surface. He praises Amir Jangoo and Saim Ayub for laying a dominant foundation at the halfway mark, but expresses deep disappointment that the middle order failed to capitalize on the setup. Pinpointing the turning points, he identified losing four key middle-order wickets in quick succession and failing to control the Powerplay with the ball as the main factors behind the loss. Despite missing out on the trophy, Powell describes the team's campaign as a proud journey built on strong resilience. After dropping their first two fixtures, the side built vital momentum during their Jamaica home leg and sustained that belief through a tough away victory in Trinidad. Powell graciously concludes by congratulating the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons on their maiden CPL title, emphasizing what the achievement means for their local fans. He noted that seeing homegrown icons like Alzarri Joseph and Rahkeem Cornwall triumph on the big stage will inspire the next generation of young kids in Antigua and fuel the continued growth of cricket across the island.

Next up, the officials get their tournament mementos, after which, the players of Jamaica Kingsmen collect their runners-up medal as well. Let's now hear from their skipper as well...

Player of the Tournament - Shadab Khan has been handed the award for his excellent all-round performance. He made 132 runs at a strike rate of 228 and picked up 11 wickets at an economy of just 4.9 RPO. Shadab starts by saying that when you are playing as an all-rounder, you try to give it your all. Feels that he enjoyed his bowling after a long time and was struggling for the last couple of years, and hopefully he gets the rhythm back now. Adds that he just tried to fill the role that was given to him by his team, and feels that you just need to accept the failures and keep a strong mindset. On his hat trick, he says that it is something that is special for any player, especially when it comes in a playoff game. Shadab ends by saying that he wants to continue with this form and it's been a tough road back after his surgery last year. He then dedicates the award to his family for sticking around with him.

Player of the Match - For his game-changing spell of 4/14, Sufyan Moqim has been handed the award. Sufyan starts off by expressing his gratitude to the Almighty for securing the championship victory and for delivering a personal performance that helped carry his side over the line. He goes on to dedicate his Player of the Match performance to the team's bowling coach, Sir Curtly Ambrose, offering it as a special tribute in honor of the legend's birthday. Reflecting on the match conditions, Sufyan explains that his main focus was maintaining strict control over his line and length despite the challenging conditions created by the heavy dew. He noted that while the wet ball made executing skills difficult, relying on his variations ultimately brought him success against the opposition batters. Highlighting the personal milestone, he shares that this award marks his very first Player of the Match title in the CPL, adding to his previous trophy successes in the PSL and the Emerging Asia Cup. Ends by reflecting on his strong finish to the tournament, reiterating his desire to dedicate this individual honor to Sir Curtly Ambrose as he feels Ambrose is a lucky charm for him.

The Presentation ceremony...

Bowlers fight back for the Falcons - It was an action-packed first 20, and both teams bossed one half. Jamaica Kingsmen were cruising along at 97/2 after 10 overs, but things changed quickly and drastically. Sufyan Moqim was the one who led the fightback, picking up as many as 4 wickets and giving away hardly any runs. Shadab Khan bowled really well in tandem with Moqim, as the pacers also closed things off fairly well in the death overs.

Sadaqat's miracle not enough for Jamaica - The Kingsmen took the difficult route to the final, as opposed to the scenic route taken by the Falcons. They had to win three in a row to clinch the title, and the way Maaz Sadaqat batted, they did have half a chance. However, those around him failed to give him the required support, and what should have been a total closer to 185-190 ended up being just about par. Also, with the ball, Jamaica were sloppy. The decision to start with Saim Ayub did bring a wicket but he also conceded 20 runs. Hunain Shah was unfortunately underwhelming in the final, bowling too many wides and eventually hobbling off with an injury. They lacked bite in the middle overs and simply couldn't build any pressure with wickets.

Sir Curtly Ambrose - Sir Curtly says that when they started, no one gave them much of a chance, and now they look like such a well-oiled machine, and they finally clinched the title. Jahmar Hamilton joins him and says that this win is for the fans, and they believed in themselves. Ambrose says that this win will now galvanize the teenagers and they will want to take the game seriously as a career as well.

The head coach and General Manager - The Falcons' GM, Jeff Miller, opens by reflecting on the emotional significance of the victory, stating that the championship triumph means everything to both the organization and the entire nation. He emphasizes that the franchise always maintained an unwavering belief that their time to succeed would come, and that today marked the realization of that long-held dream. He then goes on to praise head coach Paul Nixon, highlighting the relentless dedication, vision, and effort he poured into the squad throughout their campaign. Taking the microphone, Nixon credits his squad for their extraordinary performance, calling the players phenomenal and expressing deep gratitude for the immense dedication shown by everyone involved with the franchise. When asked what sets this particular victory apart as his third CPL title, Nixon attributes his success to a core leadership philosophy - surrounding himself with quality, high-caliber people, which naturally drives winning results.

Alzarri Joseph and Cornwall, the homeboys - Alzarri says that they had a really good tournament and the team gelled together with immense belief, which helped. Rahkeem says that the people of Antigua supported them from day one, and he wants to give thanks. Joseph then talks about his tally of 16 wickets and mentions that he didn't think too much and wanted to hold his line and length. The duo then hold up the Antigua flag proudly, paying homage to their homeland.

Amir Jangoo and Jayden Seales - Amir Jangoo opens by expressing his delight with the victory, attributing the success to a collective team effort where every individual player contributed meaningfully to the side's overall performance. He shares a personal reflection on his tournament journey, expressing deep gratitude toward the franchise management and his teammates for showing unwavering faith in him during a tough early-season slump. He concludes with a firm statement to the broader cricket community, declaring that it is high time people start giving the franchise the respect it truly deserves. Jayden Seales, standing right beside Amir Jangoo, expresses his joy as the microphone is handed over to him, noting that everything aligned perfectly for the team on the day. He shares the squad's long-standing ambition, stating that their clear goal was always to bring home the silverware for the franchise, and proudly declares that today they finally fulfilled that dream.

Let's now get a few reactions from the players, starting with Amir Jangoo himself...

Jangoo fires in the summit clash - Amir Jangoo, who has won the CPL before, that too, as part of a Jamaican franchise, has come back to haunt them. An unbeaten 57 off just 34 balls, filled with some eye-catching shots and excellent temperament, has handed his team their first title. Not just Jangoo, but it was a fine batting performance overall. Rahkeem Cornwall struck 20 runs in the first over before getting out, after which Evin Lewis carried forward the momentum with a brisk 38. The telling stand came between Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz, as they stitched together 89 runs, and Nawaz finished things off in style with a six, remaining unbeaten on 47 himself.

History has been made - Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are CPL CHAMPIONS for the first time. It is the first-ever title for a franchise from the region, and what a season it has been for them. They have bossed the final and truly deserve this win. Spare a thought for Jamaica Kingsmen as well. After the previous Jamaican franchise was dissolved and we didn't have a team from that region feature in recent years, the Kingsmen have done valiantly in their debut season. There are tears in the eyes of Maaz Sadaqat, who played an unreal knock, and Andre Russell is seen shaking hands with the opposition players, in what could be the last time we see him as a player in the CPL.