ABF vs TKR | Obed McCoy and Fabian Allen shine in Falcons’ eight-run win over Knight Riders

‌Antigua and Barbuda Falcons continued their unbeaten run at home in the Caribbean Premier League this season with an eight-run win over Trinbago Knight Riders in North Sound on Thursday. Fabian Allen’s blistering cameo and Obed McCoy’s impressive spell of fast bowling powered the home side to their second win at the venue and took them to the top of the CPL 2025 points table.

The Knight Riders had things going their way after winning the toss at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, as they put the home side under the cosh with the ball. The Falcons were precariously placed at 77/5 in the 14th over and looked to end at a sub-par score, but for Fabian Allen and skipper Imad Wasim’s partnership. The pair added 69 runs for the sixth wicket in just 30 balls to push the hosts’ total to a competitive 167/6. Allen made his intentions clear as he smashed a six off spinner Usman Tariq in only his second ball before tearing into Nathan Edward in the next over. The West Indies all-rounder smashed two fours and a six in a 22-run over from the left-arm pacer to turn the tide in the home side’s favour. Another 17-run over from Tariq, including a six and four from Allen, meant the Falcons were on course to cross the 150-run mark with four overs remaining. The skipper also joined in as he smashed a six and a four off his former countryman Mohammad Amir in the next over. The Knight Riders, however, stemmed the flow of runs in the next two overs, prohibiting the home team from scoring a boundary and accounting for dangerman Allen. He departed after smashing three sixes and fours in his extended cameo of 45 from 20 balls. Imad and Shamar Springer made amends in the last over, hitting a six each to take the Falcons closer to the 170-run mark.

In reply, opener Colin Munro set the tone for the Kngith Riders’ chase as he smashed five boundaries in Jayden Seales’ first two overs, separated by a 20-run over from captain Imad Wasim. The former Kiwi batter smashed three fours and a six in the left-arm spinner’s second over as the visitors raced to 47 in four overs. But the introduction of Obed McCoy proved a masterstroke for the hosts as he dismissed both openers Munro and Alex Hales in his first over. Munro returned after a whirlwind 18-ball 44, which included eight fours and a six, while Hales left after a struggling 10-ball five. Soon, the Knight Riders' innings unravelled as they slid from a dominant-looking 49/0 to 110/6 with McCoy picking up the wickets of Keacy Carty and Akeal Hosein in the second half of the chase. With 36 runs required from the last 12 balls, Kieron Pollard kept the game alive with a massive 22-run over off McCoy’s last, which included three giant sixes and a four. However, Springer held his nerve in the final over as he handsomely defended 14 runs, giving away just five. Pollard’s entertaining knock of 43 off 28 balls, including four sixes and three fours, went in vain as the visitors' innings finished at 159/6. McCoy was the pick among the Falcons’ bowlers with figures of 4/39 in four overs, while Shakib Al Hasan and Rahkeem Cornwall picked up a wicket each.