BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are Caribbean Premier League champions for the first time after completing a commanding eight-wicket victory over the Jamaica Kingsmen in the 2026 final at Kensington Oval.
The Falcons chased down Jamaica’s 170 for nine with more than three overs to spare, reaching 173 for two in 16.4 overs to cap a historic campaign with their maiden CPL trophy.
After winning the toss and sending Jamaica in, Antigua and Barbuda faced an extraordinary innings from Maaz Sadaqat, who struck 114 from 58 balls, including eight fours and nine sixes. His century, reached from 49 deliveries, was the first hundred scored in a CPL final.
But Sadaqat received little support as the Falcons repeatedly struck at the other end.
Sufyan Moqim produced the decisive spell, taking four wickets for just 14 runs from four overs. Alzarri Joseph added two for 27, while Jayden Seales, Shadab Khan and Shamar Springer each took a wicket. Jamaica lost four wickets for three runs during a dramatic middle-order collapse before Sadaqat helped lift the Kingsmen to 170 for nine.
The Falcons responded aggressively.
Rahkeem Cornwall smashed 20 from only six deliveries before being dismissed at the end of the opening over. Evin Lewis then struck 38 from 26 balls as Antigua and Barbuda raced to 76 for one by the end of the six-over powerplay.
Lewis departed with the score on 84, but Jamaica would not take another wicket.
Amir Jangoo hit an unbeaten 57 from 34 balls, while Hasan Nawaz finished 47 not out from 35 deliveries. The pair shared an unbroken 89-run partnership to carry the Falcons to the championship, with Nawaz sealing the victory with a six.
Moqim was named Player of the Match for his four-wicket performance, while Falcons all-rounder Shadab Khan was named Player of the Series after finishing the tournament with 132 runs and 11 wickets.
The title represents a major milestone for the Antigua and Barbuda franchise, which entered the CPL in 2024. The competition itself began in 2013.
Across the 2026 tournament, Quinton de Kock finished as the leading run-scorer with 392 runs from 11 innings. Shimron Hetmyer was second with 367, while Sadaqat’s century in the final lifted him to 363 runs from seven innings.
The bowling race was exceptionally tight. Imran Tahir, Hunain Shah, Falcons fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and Matthew Forde each finished with 16 wickets, with Tahir listed at the top of the tournament standings.
The Falcons become the latest franchise to join the CPL champions list. Jamaica Tallawahs won the inaugural tournament in 2013, while previous champions also include Barbados Tridents, Trinbago Knight Riders, St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Saint Lucia Kings. Trinbago won the 2025 competition before Antigua and Barbuda claimed the crown in 2026.
Final:
Jamaica Kingsmen 170-9 (20 overs); Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 173-2 (16.4 overs). Antigua and Barbuda Falcons won by eight wickets.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons Capture First CPL Title With Eight-Wicket Win.