The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are Caribbean Premier League champions for the first time, sealing the title with an emphatic eight-wicket win over the Jamaica Kingsmen at Kensington Oval on Sunday night.
Chasing 171 for victory, the Falcons reached 173 for two in just 16.4 overs, completing the chase with 20 balls to spare. The win delivers the franchise its first CPL crown in only its third season of competition.
Sufyan Moqim was the architect of the victory, claiming four wickets for just 14 runs to restrict the Kingsmen and earn Player of the Match honours. His spell proved decisive after the Jamaican side had threatened a much larger total.
Batting first, the Kingsmen posted 170 for nine from their 20 overs, anchored by a superb 114 from Maaz Sadaqat. Sadaqat's century kept his side competitive, but the Falcons' bowlers maintained pressure through the closing overs to prevent a late surge.
In reply, Amir Jangoo led the chase with an unbeaten 57, while Hasan Nawaz finished on 47 not out. Evin Lewis contributed 38, and Rahkeem Cornwall blasted 20 from just six deliveries to give the Falcons an explosive start to the innings.
Nawaz sealed the historic victory with a six, sparking celebrations among players and supporters as the Falcons secured the franchise's first CPL championship. The triumph capped an impressive playoff run for Antigua and Barbuda, which had defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by nine wickets in Qualifier One to advance to its first CPL final.
The result marks a significant milestone for the Falcons, who entered the league as one of its newer franchises and now stand as champions of the region's premier Twenty20 competition. For the Jamaica Kingsmen, the defeat ends a campaign that had been built around Sadaqat's batting, but the side could not defend its total against a composed Falcons chase.
Antigua and Barbuda's victory adds another chapter to the CPL's history of first-time winners and underlines the depth of talent across the Caribbean franchise circuit. The Falcons' combination of disciplined bowling and aggressive batting proved decisive on the night, with Moqim's economy and Jangoo's calm finish at the centre of the performance.
The championship was confirmed in front of a Kensington Oval crowd that witnessed a clinical display from the visitors, who never allowed the required run rate to climb. With 20 balls remaining at the finish, the margin of victory reflected the Falcons' control of the contest from the middle overs onward.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons — 2026 CPL Champions.
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