Antigua & Barbuda Falcons lifted the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) trophy for the first time in the tournament’s 2026 edition, beating Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets in a decisive final at the end of a season that began with the same two sides facing each other. The Falcons chased down a target of 171 runs, finishing on 173 for 2 in 16.4 overs, while the Kingsmen were bowled out for 170 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Road to the final
The Falcons entered the playoffs with momentum built around a blend of disciplined bowling and aggressive batting. In the first Qualifier, left‑arm wrist spinner Sufyan Moqim produced a match‑turning spell of 4 for 13 against Guyana Amazon Warriors, securing the Falcons a place in the final. Moqim’s performance was complemented by early breakthroughs from fast bowlers Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph, who each claimed two wickets in the opening Powerplay.
Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat, then just 21, added a historic milestone to the Falcons’ campaign. In the Eliminator, he recorded 112 runs, becoming the youngest centurion in CPL history. Sadaqat followed that feat with a second century in the final, smashing 114 runs from 58 balls, a knock that anchored the Falcons’ chase.
Other notable contributions in the lead‑up included a solid partnership between Sadaqat and teammate Saim Ayub, who together added 80 runs off 46 deliveries after the Falcons were 30 for 2 in the fourth over of the final. The partnership took the score to 97 for 2 at the halfway point of the innings.
Final showdown
Jamaica Kingsmen won the toss and elected to bat, posting a sub‑par total of 170 for 9. The innings began with an aggressive display from opener Rahkeem Cornwall, who struck 4, 4, 6, 6 in the first over before being dismissed on the last ball of a 20‑run over bowled by Ayub. Evin Lewis then faced the new ball, taking on the Kingsmen’s captain Andre Russell before Amir Jangoo removed Hunain Shah in an 18‑run fourth over.
Despite the early fireworks, the Kingsmen’s middle order faltered. Ayub’s third over, which concluded the Powerplay, yielded 42 runs, and the team slumped from 108 for 2 to 113 for 6 within three overs. Moqim was instrumental in that collapse, dismissing Ayub and Rovman Powell in a double‑wicket over, followed by a wicket of Hassan Khan in the next over. He finished with figures of 4 for 14 in four overs, a performance that mirrored his earlier Qualifier spell.
In the chase, the Falcons entered the Powerplay with a solid start. Amir Jangoo and Evin Lewis built a 64‑run partnership off 40 balls, laying a foundation for the middle overs. A subsequent stand between Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz added 89 runs from 54 balls, taking the Falcons past the 150‑run mark and erasing any doubt about the chase.
The Kingsmen’s bowling attack was further weakened when Hunain Shah suffered an injury after delivering just one ball in the 14th over, leaving the side a bowler short. The Falcons capitalised, with Jangoo taking on Vitel Lawes in the 15th over and reducing the required runs to 19 from the remaining 30 balls. Nawaz sealed the victory by hitting two sixes in the 17th over, completing the chase with eight wickets in hand.
Key individual statistics from the final underline the contrast between the two sides. For the Kingsmen, Maaz Sadaqat’s 114 was the lone highlight, supported by a modest 29 from Saim Ayub. Their bowling attack recorded a solitary wicket‑taking effort from Moqim (4‑14) and a two‑wicket spell from Alzarri Joseph (2‑27). The Falcons’ batting line‑up featured Amir Jangoo’s 57, Hasan Nawaz’s unbeaten 47, and a supporting 38 from Evin Lewis. Vitel Lawes contributed with figures of 1‑32.
The final scoreline read: Jamaica Kingsmen 170/9 (20 overs) – Maaz Sadaqat 114, Saim Ayub 29; Sufyan Moqim 4‑14, Alzarri Joseph 2‑27. Antigua & Barbuda Falcons 173/2 (16.4 overs) – Amir Jangoo 57, Hasan Nawaz 47* (not out), Evin Lewis 38; Vitel Lawes 1‑32. The eight‑wicket victory not only secured the Falcons’ maiden CPL title but also highlighted the impact of Pakistani talent in the tournament, with both Sadaqat and Moqim delivering match‑winning performances at crucial stages.
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