Antigua and Barbuda Falcons made history by winning their maiden Caribbean Premier League title, defeating Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets in the final in Bridgetown on Monday after completing the highest successful run chase in CPL final history.
Batting first, Jamaica posted 170 for eight from their 20 overs, with Maz Sadaqat producing a stunning century to keep his side in the contest.
Jamaica were reduced to 30 for two before Sadaqat and Saim Ayub added 80 for the third wicket to steady the innings. Ayub made 29 before falling, after which Jamaica slipped to 127 for seven.
Sadaqat held one end together and brought up his century from just 49 balls. He was dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings after smashing 114 from 58 deliveries, including eight fours and nine sixes.
With the rest of Jamaica’s batting failing to make a significant contribution, extras were their second-highest source of runs with 12.
Antigua’s Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was the pick of the bowlers, taking four wickets for just 14 runs from his four overs.
Chasing 171 for the title, Antigua made an aggressive start and raced to 76 for one in the powerplay.
Rahkeem Cornwall smashed two fours and two sixes in a five-ball 20 before being dismissed in the sixth over. Evin Lewis and Alick Athanaze then added 64 for the second wicket, with Lewis contributing 38.
The Falcons remained in control after Lewis’s dismissal, with Athanaze and Hasan Nawaz taking the game away from Jamaica through an unbeaten 89-run partnership for the third wicket.
Nawaz sealed the historic victory with a six off the fourth ball of the 17th over as Antigua reached 173 for two.
Athanaze finished unbeaten on 57 from 34 balls, while Nawaz remained not out on 47 off 35 deliveries.
Muqeem was named Player of the Match for his match-winning spell, while Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 132 runs and taking 11 wickets during the competition.
