ABF VS SKN T20S

Right then, that is it from the curtain raiser of the Caribbean Premier League, 2024! The momentum of the game kept on swinging like a pendulum and in the end, it was the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots who got over the line in this last-ball thriller. The action continues as we have a game lined up on Saturday, the 31st of August. It will be between the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons versus the defending champs, Guyana Amazon Warriors. The game will begin at 4.30 am IST (11 pm GMT, the previous day) but as you know, our build-up begins much sooner so do join us for the same. Until then, take care, and cheers!

Kyle Mayers is the Player of the Match for his brilliant contribution with the bat. He begins by saying, it was a nail-biting game. Adds that it was tough to bat on but they were patient and managed to cross the line in the end. Mentions that he knew how the pitch behaved and his job was to stay there as long as possible. Further tells that his mindset was simply to play on the merit. Thinks that it was a good wicket. Also adds that he is enjoying playing in new colours and knows most of the guys here.

The Presentation Ceremony...

Earlier in the match, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons posted a total of 163/4 after being sent in to bat first. Anrich Nortje took an early wicket, dismissing Bishop. Fakhar Zaman contributed significantly, forming a 60-run partnership with Kofi James, however, the Patriots' spinners, Ashmead Nedd and Tabraiz Shamsi, effectively curbed the run flow and dismissed both Zaman and James. The 17-year-old Jewel Andrew stole the spotlight later on by scoring an impressive 50 runs off 30 balls on his CPL debut, alongside Fabian Allen, who added 24 runs, forming a crucial partnership of 61 runs.

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons were rocked early but gained the momentum back in the middle overs courtesy of superb bowling from Shamar Springer. He picked up four wickets and was certainly the pick of the bowlers. Additionally, Imad Wasim contributed significantly by maintaining an economical bowling rate throughout his four-over spell, which included a vital wicket from Andre Fletcher. Roshon Primus was excellent, as he picked up two wickets in the last over. Despite the efforts, the side just fell short of 4-5 runs!

Who would have thought the game would go till the last ball? The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots began their innings with a strong start, despite the early dismissal of their skipper. Openers Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher established a solid partnership, maintaining a steady pace until the eighth over. However, the loss of both openers triggered the team's performance, and wickets fell like a deck of cards. Despite this collapse, Kyle Mayers remained resilient at the crease, continuing to score until his dismissal in the 16th over. Wickets kept on tumbling and in the end the equation was 5 needed off 3 with one wicket in hand, and the South African duo of Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi held their nerve and got their side over the line.

What a curtain raiser we have witnessed here from the Caribbean Premier League, 2024! The momentum of the game kept on swinging from one corner to another and in the end, it was the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots who came out on top in this last ball thriller!

Nortje with the nerves of steel and sails his team home in what turned out to be an extremely tense season opener. The Patriots, who just registered one win in their previous season, have managed to snatch a narrow victory this season in their first game itself! Primus spears in a fuller-length delivery on the middle, Anrich Nortje clears his front leg and slaps it straight down the ground, over the bowler's head with a horizontal bat and completes the single. Swing of contrasting emotions across both camps. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots win by 1 wicket.

The call is for two and they will get it by a whisker! The scores are level now! Roshon Primus goes for the yorker but ends up slipping in a very low full toss outside the off stump. Nortje crouches low and reaches for it by extending his bat away from his body, and slices it to the left of diving Fabian Allen at deep point for a couple of runs. The throw comes in rapidly towards the bowler's end and Shamsi had to really put on the afterburners to get home safely at the non-striker's end.

Full and attacking the stumps. Shamsi steps down the pitch and flicks it to deep square leg for a single. 3 needed off 2 balls now.

WIDE! Bouncer on the middle stump line. Shamsi ducks underneath it. Wide given.

OUT! TAKEN! It is all going down to the wire, folks! This game has zigzagged back and forth dramatically. Roshon Primus has just delivered one of the most nerve-wracking final over so far and has executed it to perfection. Hard length on middle and off. It skids off the surface and gets heavy on Nedd as he gets cramped up for room. He swipes across the line at it but only manages a tame top edge to short third where Mohammad Amir takes the simplest of the catches. The Falcons are just a solitary wicket away from the win.

OUT! TAKEN! It is all going down to the wire, folks! This game has zigzagged back and forth dramatically. Roshon Primus has just delivered one of the most nerve-wracking final over so far and has executed it to perfection. Hard length on middle and off. It skids off the surface and gets heavy on Nedd as he gets cramped up for room. He swipes across the line at it but only manages a tame top edge to short third where Mohammad Amir takes the simplest of the catches. The Falcons are just a solitary wicket away from the win.

WIDE! Uh, oh! That's a gift from Primus! Sprays it way down leg on a length. Ashmead Nedd swivels for a pull shot but misses. Wide given.

ull on the leg stump. Flicked to deep backward square leg for a single. 6 runs needed off the 4 remaining balls now.

Anrich Nortje is in at number 10.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! What a sheer nail-biter this curtain-raiser has turned out to be! Damp looks in the Patriots' camp! Primus with an excellent change of pace, lands it full and around off, Dominic Drakes clears his front leg to go for a biggie behind the deep mid-wicket region but gets beaten by the lack of pace. However, he does go through his shot across the line and mistimes it totally. Ends up lobbing it up in the night sky over long on where James takes a superb overhead catch.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! What a sheer nail-biter this curtain-raiser has turned out to be! Damp looks in the Patriots' camp! Primus with an excellent change of pace, lands it full and around off, Dominic Drakes clears his front leg to go for a biggie behind the deep mid-wicket region but gets beaten by the lack of pace. However, he does go through his shot across the line and mistimes it totally. Ends up lobbing it up in the night sky over long on where James takes a superb overhead catch.