CPL 2024 Match 11 Falcons vs Patriots match review

In a tight match in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Antigua & Barbuda Falcons stunned St Kitts & Nevis Patriots by winning by two wickets with just two balls remaining. The Patriots were limited to 153/8 off 20 overs by the Falcons after they won the toss and put the opponents in. For the Falcons, Mohammad Amir claimed three wickets, while Mikyle Louis shone at the plate for the Patriots. 

Louis strolled to 63 runs off just 36 balls, including seven sixes, thanks to his ferocious order lower-order hitting, which meant thirty-three runs were scored off the final few overs. After trailing at 60/4 in the ninth over, the home team achieved a type of victory with a target of 153. 

In response, Brandon King and Justin Greaves struck their way to 55 before King perished in the fifth over, trapped in front of the stumps by Anrich Nortje's pace. The Falcons appeared to be reaching the mark without too many concerns. From that point on, the Falcons' easy ride was finished as they kept losing wickets and the game was too tight to declare. 

 Falcons vs Patriots highlights:

The main force behind the visitors' damage with the ball was Wanindu Hasaranga, an all-rounder from Sri Lanka whose leg breaks and other variations posed a constant threat. Hasaranga bowled a stunning spell of top-notch spin that nabbed Shamar Springer, Jewel Andrew (who was quite threatening), Justin Greaves, and Sam Billings. 

It appeared as though the Falcons' wings had been clipped and the Patriots were winning the duel at 110/7 when Billings left the scene. Imad Wasim and Roshon Primus worked well together to take advantage of each opportunity to score runs and close the distance to the objective by hitting the holes in the field. The Falcons needed to win with three wickets and 22 runs with three overs remaining in hand.

After being called upon to bat, Dominic Drakes bowled a sparing over that was hit for just six runs, eliminating the possibility that 15 runs from 12 balls would be needed. In the penultimate over, the pendulum swung towards the Patriots, and Primus was caught off a backward point by Nortje. 

When the Falcons needed 11 runs from the final over, Fabian Allen stole the show by hitting back-to-back short balls from Drakes for six and four into the leg side, then scampering the winning single with the final two balls. 

The Falcons moved up to third place in the standings and the Patriots, who had lost five straight games, dropped to the bottom of the standings. Imad Wasim was named Player of the Match for his 17 runs scored without giving up and his 2/24 with the ball. 

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