Alzarri helps Falcons end Warriors unbeaten run

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons became the first team to defeat the Guyana Amazon Warriors this season, claiming a stunning 65-run victory at Providence Stadium in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.

Pacer Alzarri Joseph and leg-spinner Shadab Khan led the charge for the Falcons, powering the visitors to a commanding victory that brought their league campaign to a memorable close and secured a top-two finish.

Sent in to bat, the Falcons made a promising start, with Karima Gore and Evin Lewis both getting starts in the Power Play. Gore punched Dwaine Pretorius and Romario Shepherd around the ground in the opening overs before Khary Pierre finally made the breakthrough, ensuring Gore remained unable to pass 30 this season.

Lewis then took up the mantle, but he was trapped lbw by the ever-reliable Imran Tahir.

Tahir, so often the man who drains the life from a batting side, was no different against the Falcons. His bowling had all the characteristics of a boa constrictor lurking in the Guyana jungle, slowly squeezing the life out of the opposition.

At the other end, veteran partner Mohammad Nabi applied pressure of his own as the Warriors’ spinners worked in tandem to stifle Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz.

The Falcons were forced to bide their time and negotiate the spin threat, knowing opportunities would come later against the pace attack. When the chance arrived, they seized it.

A late surge transformed their total from modest to highly competitive as the Falcons smashed 72 runs from the final five overs. Shadab Khan was at the heart of the assault, using the express pace of Shamar Joseph and Romario Shepherd to his advantage. His unbeaten 30 off just nine balls provided the final fireworks and propelled the Falcons to 182-5.

The Warriors came out swinging, looking to maximise the Power Play. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mavendra Dindyal appeared to be laying a solid platform after the first two overs, but everything changed in the third.

Alzarri Joseph struck twice in the over, sending both Gurbaz and Shai Hope back to the pavilion. The setbacks did little to deter the Warriors’ attacking approach, however, as they raced along at more than 11 runs per over during the Power Play.

But the Falcons had a response to everything the Warriors threw at them.

By the end of the Power Play, Providence Stadium was stunned as the Warriors slumped to 71-4. Alzarri Joseph added another wicket when he removed Dindyal before Joshua James produced the moment of the innings, dismissing the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer with his first ball.

The Warriors now needed to consolidate, but the Falcons sensed an opportunity. Player of the Match Shadab Khan and Sufyan Moqim continued to tighten their grip, combining for four wickets in four overs and leaving the Warriors staring at a shock defeat.

It suddenly became a battle of spin pairings, with Imran Tahir and Mohammad Nabi taking on their counterparts from the Falcons. The veteran duo briefly steadied the innings and managed to negotiate the dangerous spinners, but Joseph returned to end Tahir’s resistance with a superb yorker.

Joseph finished with impressive figures of 4-41 before returning to the field, leaving the Warriors’ lower order with an enormous task.

That task was left for Joshua James to complete, and he needed just two balls to put the finishing touches on an emphatic Falcons victory. For the first time this season, the Warriors lost more than five wickets as they were bundled out for 117 inside 15 overs.

Revenge was sweet for the Falcons after their home defeat to the Warriors earlier in the competition.