Shadab stars as Falcons sink Patriots

Falcons chased 188 to move up to fourth spot in the CPL

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons held their nerve to beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by three wickets in a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) clash at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound on Thursday.

Put into bat, Patriots posted 187-6 as Dasun Shanaka produced a stunning late assault, smashing an unbeaten 49 from just 17 balls. Shanaka struck five fours and four sixes to provide the impetus after Kyle Mayers had made 34 off 18 balls at the top of the order. Jason Holder added 27 from 25, while Andre Fletcher contributed 20.

Shamar Springer took two wickets for Patriots while Shadab Khan, Jayden Seales and Moeen Ali claimed one apiece.

Falcons lost wickets regularly in the chase but stayed within reach of their target. Evin Lewis anchored the innings with 48 off 38 balls, including five sixes, while Hasan Nawaz made 33 from 28.

With the required rate climbing, Shadab changed the course of the chase with a blistering 30 from 12 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes.

Moeen finished unbeaten on 25 from 12 deliveries, while Karima Gore contributed 22 off 15 as Falcons reached 188-7 in 19.3 overs.

Mayers and Holder claimed two wickets each for Patriots, with Obed McCoy and Waqar Salamkheil taking one apiece.

The result gave Falcons a crucial three-wicket victory in the campaign, while Patriots were left to rue their failure to convert Shanaka’s late fireworks into a winning total.