ABF VS BR MATCH 4

Right then, that’s a wrap from this clash as the Barbados Royals have humbled the new entrants Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. They kickoff their campaign with a commanding victory. On the other hand, quite early into the tournament, things have already gotten a bit serious for the Falcons who have lost three on the trot now. They would definitely like to make amends in their strategies and come back strongly in their next stint. But well, the action in the Caribbean Premier League has just begun and we are in the early days of the competition, so there’s a lot more entertainment to come ahead. Up next is an exciting clash in Match 5 between St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Saint Lucia Kings at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts. As we speak, this game will begin in just a few hours, and the first ball will be bowled on Monday, 2nd September at 4.30 am IST (11.00 pm GMT, the previous day). Do join for the pre-match build-up. Cheers!

The skipper of Barbados Royals, Rovman Powell says It is good to start the CPL with a win and in the fashion that they have won this. Adds that the bowlers stamped his decision to bowl first with a clinical bowling performance and the batters at the top did the rest by making it a walk in the park. Mentions that the players look sharp and ready for this season. Reckons that having QDK in the team makes it easier for the other batters around. Advices the youngsters to learn from Quinton de Kock and pick his brain and learn from his experience.

Chris Green, the skipper of Antigua & Barbuda Falcons says they were completely outplayed in all the facets of the game. Adds Quinton de Kock and Cornwall took the game away with the bat. Says that their batting and bowling efforts were below-par and tells that you have to tip off your hat and appreciate the opposition for playing well. Feels they need to up their game and make more impetus with the bat. Also reckons there's no panic at all as they still have got a lot of games to play.

Quinton de Kock is adjudged as the unarguable PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his unbeaten 87 (45) which included 9 fours and 5 towering sixes. He says it wasn't a big total and they started well and took total advantage of the Powerplay and that helped him to bat normally and rotate strike at will in the middle phase. Adds that he is happy to start on a winning note and batting with Rahkeem is fun as all he needs to do is get him on strike and he can do the hard work.

THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY...

Earlier in the game, sent into bat first, the Falcons' innings never truly gained traction as they struggled to build momentum, and kept losing wickets consistently throughout. Jewel Andrew, the 17-year-old, fresh off a half-century in the first match, provided a spark of resistance with a gritty 48, momentarily reviving hopes and boosting the sluggish run rate. Late contributions from their captain Chris Green and Roshon Primus helped push the total to a sub-par, if not imposing. The Royals' bowling attack proved highly effective, leveraging the windy conditions and employing clever variations in pace to keep the Falcons off-balance. Obed McCoy stood out handsomely with three wickets, but it was a well-rounded team effort that stifled the opposition's scoring opportunities.

After somewhat a dismal batting display, the Falcons needed to get quick breakthroughs to get in the game but instead, they were toyed around by the two openers. Amir was ordinary with his lengths and the others too, couldn't just find their groove to exert any pressure. They conceded 72 in the fielding restrictions, compared to their 42/2 while batting. This disparity put them under tremendous pressure from which they just couldn't recover. Wasim did get a wicket to his name but it was too little, quite literally, and too late for the Falcons.

Chasing a below-par total, all the Royals needed was a solid foundation and they just got one. Quinton de Kock and Rahkeem Cornwall came out all guns blazing and dominated the powerplay in style and aggressively from the word go. Quinton de Kock treated the fans with a flurry of glorious strokes while Cornwall too, deterred any trouble finding boundaries regularly. de Kock eventually got to his fifty and sailed his team through the line with a commanding 69-run stand alongside Shamarh Brooks with the loss of a solitary wicket.

A comprehensive and productive day overall for the Barbados Royals first with the ball and now with the bat. They register their first win of this 2024 season with 9 wickets in hand and 27 balls to spare. Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, the debutants this season, face their third straight defeat on the bounce. They did take the previous two games to the final delivery but this time around, they were taken to the cleaners by the Royal's top three and never looked in the game from the first ball itself, barring Jewel Andrew's stint with the bat.

SIX! GAME. SET. MATCH! QDK finishes things off in style. On a length around off, Quinton de Kock clears the front leg and smashes this over the ropes toward the long on region and seals a victory for his side with six runs. Barbados Royals win their season opener by 9 wickets.

FOUR! Pitched up on off, Quinton de Kock gets behind this and lofts this up and over extra cover for four runs. just 3 needed to win now.

WIDE! Full and wide outside off, Quinton de Kock leaves it. Wide signaled.

Good length on the pads, Shamarh Brooks nudges this towards deep square for one.

WIDE! Bumper down the leg. Shamarh Brooks ducks down. Wided.

FOUR! Pulled away at will and with ease by QDK! Imad Wasim bowls it flat and short, on the middle and leg, Quinton de Kock rocks back using the depth of the crease, and gets his bat underneath the ball before pulling over mid-wicket for a boundary. This is de Kock's highest score in his CPL career now.

Very slow through the air, around off, Shamarh Brooks cuts it late to wide of short third and jogs to the other end for a single.

Slower and on the leg stump line on a fuller length, Quinton de Kock tilts ahead and turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single.