The 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) began with a thrilling low-scoring contest in Basseterre, where St Kitts and Nevis Patriots clinched a six-wicket win over Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, thanks to an exceptional spell from Afghanistan spinner Waqar Salamkheil.
Opting to bowl first, Patriots made early inroads as Kyle Mayers, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naseem Shah reduced Falcons to 39 for 3 within five overs. The momentum intensified when Salamkheil entered the attack in the eighth over. He bowled Fabian Allen with a sharp turning delivery and went on to dismiss Shakib Al Hasan, Imad Wasim, and Odean Smith, finishing with remarkable figures of 4 for 22 in his four overs.
Also Read: United Arab Emirates T20I Tri-Series 2025
Falcons found some hope in Karima Gore, who played a fighting innings of 61 off 34 balls with eight fours and two sixes. However, his dismissal to Farooqi in the 12th over ended their resistance, and the Falcons were bundled out for 121.
Chasing 122, Patriots started aggressively through Evin Lewis, who scored a brisk 25 off 13 balls before falling to Obed McCoy. Rahkeem Cornwall briefly turned the game with two quick wickets, dismissing Mayers and Rilee Rossouw to leave Patriots at 56 for 3.
However, Alick Athanaze anchored the chase with an unbeaten 37 off 28 balls, supported by skipper Jason Holder’s 18 off 14. The pair sealed victory in the 15th over, giving Patriots a confident start to their CPL 2025 campaign.