The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons strengthened their position at the top of the CPL 2026 standings with an eight-run victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders in Port of Spain.
The Falcons posted 183 for 4 after a powerful batting display led by Hasan Nawaz, who scored 76 from 48 balls. Rahkeem Cornwall also made an explosive contribution at the start of the innings before making an even bigger impact with the ball.
In reply, TKR managed 175 for 7 despite a late fightback from Joshua Da Silva and Kieron Pollard. The result leaves the defending champions in serious danger of missing out on the next stage of the competition.
Cornwall Gives Falcons a Fast Start
The Falcons got off to an aggressive beginning, with Rahkeem Cornwall attacking the TKR bowlers during the powerplay.
Cornwall smashed four consecutive boundaries in the opening over from Akeal Hosein before finding another boundary against Usman Tariq. His aggressive cameo ended when Tariq bowled him through an inside edge.
Cornwall finished his brief stay with 20 from just seven deliveries, giving the Falcons early momentum.
Nawaz Takes Control
Hasan Nawaz then took responsibility for building the innings.
Coming to the crease in the seventh over, the batter played an attacking but controlled innings. He eventually scored 76 from 48 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes.
Nawaz found an excellent partner in Falcons captain Moeen Ali. The pair added 108 runs from 61 deliveries for the fourth wicket, turning what could have been a moderate total into a challenging one.
Nawaz was eventually caught at long-off in the final over, but by then he had done enough damage to put the Falcons in a strong position.
Moeen remained unbeaten on 32 from 24 balls, including three fours and a six.
TKR will also look back at their missed opportunities. Two catches went down during the Falcons’ innings, including one that would have dismissed Nawaz when he was on 36. Two run-out opportunities involving Moeen were also missed.
Cornwall Destroys TKR’s Top Order
If Cornwall’s batting gave the Falcons momentum, his bowling almost decided the match.
The big all-rounder finished with outstanding figures of 3 for 17, removing three left-handed TKR batters during the powerplay.
Colin Munro was the first major wicket, skying a delivery towards mid-on. Just three balls later, Sunil Narine also fell, caught at long-off.
Cornwall then produced another important breakthrough by dismissing Nicholas Pooran for 22.
By the end of the first six overs, TKR had been reduced to 63 for 4, leaving them with a difficult task.
Pollard and Da Silva Fight Back
Despite the early damage, TKR refused to surrender.
Kieron Pollard joined Joshua Da Silva in the middle and the experienced pair added 55 runs for the sixth wicket.
Pollard was carrying an injury after spending time on the field but continued to battle with the bat. He scored 41 from 36 balls, keeping TKR’s hopes alive deep into the chase.
However, his innings ended in the 18th over when he hit towards deep midwicket against Joshua James. Jayden Seales completed an excellent diving catch.
Pollard’s departure left TKR needing 36 runs from the final 15 deliveries.
Emotional Moment for Kieron Pollard
Pollard’s dismissal created one of the biggest moments of the evening.
As the 39-year-old walked back to the dressing room, he raised his arms while receiving a standing ovation from his teammates and the crowd.
The moment carried extra significance because it could potentially have been Pollard’s final CPL appearance at home. TKR still have two matches remaining, so his CPL career is not officially over yet, but the reaction suggested that supporters understood the significance of the occasion.
Pollard has been a major figure in the Caribbean Premier League for more than a decade, making the moment particularly emotional for TKR fans.
Da Silva Keeps Fighting Until the End
Joshua Da Silva refused to give up.
With 26 runs required from the final over, the equation looked almost impossible. James began the over with a single followed by two dot balls, leaving TKR needing 25 from the final three deliveries.
Da Silva then produced a remarkable burst, hitting six, four and six from the final three balls.
His late assault narrowed the margin, but it was not enough. TKR eventually finished on 175 for 7, eight runs short of the Falcons’ total.
Falcons Strengthen Their Position
The eight-run victory gives the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons another important result in their CPL campaign and keeps them at the top of the standings.
For TKR, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult.
The defending champions have now suffered three consecutive defeats and have lost six of their eight matches. They are sitting second from bottom and are now on the verge of elimination.
The Falcons’ victory was built around two outstanding individual performances. Nawaz’s aggressive 76 gave them the foundation for a competitive total, while Cornwall’s three-wicket powerplay spell put TKR under enormous pressure during the chase.
TKR will now need to win their remaining matches and hope other results go their way if they are to keep their campaign alive.
Match Summary
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons – 183/4
Hasan Nawaz 76, Moeen Ali 32*
Trinbago Knight Riders – 175/7
Joshua Da Silva 54*, Kieron Pollard 41
Bowling: Rahkeem Cornwall 3/17
Result: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons won by 8 runs.
