ABF vs SKNP | Shakib Al Hasan and Karima Gore star in Falcons’ low-scoring win against Patriots

‌Antigua and Barbuda Falcons continued their run at the top of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 campaign with a seven-wicket win over St Kitts and Nevis Falcons in North Sound on Sunday. Shakib Al Hasan shone with both bat and ball, while Karima Gore scored an unbeaten half-century during the chase as the home side reached seven points with three wins in six games.

After being put in to bat first at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, the Falcons could manage just 133/9 in their allotted 20 overs. They struggled at all stages of the game as the score read 31/1 after the six-over powerplay, with only 23 runs coming in the last four overs. With the visitors placed at 110/4 after the 16-over mark, with Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder at the crease, they looked poised to go past the 150-run mark, but Shakib had other ideas. The left-arm spinner, who completed 500 wickets in T20s with the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan in his first over, led a stunning comeback with two wickets in his second. He dismissed the dangerous-looking Mayers with the second ball before striking again in the penultimate ball to send back Navin Bidaisee. His impressive spell of 3/11 in two overs, along with a dramatic last over, which saw three run outs, restricted the visitors to a sub-par total. Opener Evin Lewis, who retired hurt at the end of the third over before returning in the seventh, top scored for the side with 32 in 31 balls. The southpaw hit three sixes and a four during his knock, while wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan chipped in with a 26-ball 30.

The Falcons always looked in control during the chase with openers Jewel Andrew and Rahkeem Cornwall adding 34 runs inside five overs. Karima Gore, who came in at number three, then played the perfect anchor for the hosts as he remained unbeaten with a composed half-century. He hit three fours and two sixes to top score for the side with 52 runs off 47 balls, while Andrew (28) and Shakib (25) chipped in with useful contributions. The spin duo of Waqar Salamkheil and Navin Bidaisee tried their best to stop the home side, with miserly spells of 1/16 and 1/17, respectively, in four overs, but the Falcons comfortably reached 137/3 to close the game with two balls to spare. Former Bangladesh captain Shakib was rightly declared the Player of the Match for his all-round contributions.