Karima Gore anchored a disciplined chase with 52 as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons defeated St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by seven wickets in North Sound, successfully hunting down a modest target of 134 with just two balls to spare.

The Patriots struggled throughout their innings after being asked to bat first, managing only 133 for 9 in their 20 overs on a challenging surface. Shakib Al Hasan was the chief destroyer with the ball, claiming 3 for 11 in just two overs of devastatingly accurate bowling that left the former champions in tatters.

Evin Lewis top-scored for the Patriots with 32 off 31 deliveries, while Mohammad Rizwan contributed 30 off 26 balls, but no other batsman could reach 20 as the innings fell apart around them. The Patriots were plagued by poor running between the wickets, suffering three run-outs, while four batsmen failed to reach double figures in a disjointed batting display.

Chasing 134, the Falcons found the going tough initially but gradually took control of the contest. Afghanistan spinner Waqar Salamkheil, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, kept things tight with figures of 1 for 16, but the Patriots lacked the bowling depth to maintain consistent pressure.

The match turned when Shakib stepped up with the bat after his bowling heroics. The Bangladesh all-rounder smashed Ashmead Nedd for a six down the ground before reverse-sweeping the following delivery for four, injecting momentum into the chase at a crucial moment.

When Shakib departed with 28 runs still needed off 30 balls, Gore took charge of the run chase. The opener had been playing the anchor role throughout the innings but found his timing perfectly when it mattered most, striking a couple of boundaries to relieve the pressure before hitting the winning runs to complete his maiden CPL fifty.

The victory strengthened the Falcons’ position at the top of the CPL 2025 points table, while the Patriots’ struggles with the bat continue to hinder their campaign in the tournament.