Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) officials are buoyant after Kensington Oval successfully staged its first Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final on Sunday night.
BCA’s manager of marketing and communications Steven Leslie was particularly effusive in his assessment of the tournament run at the region’s most recognisable venue.
“Hosting matches between September 5 and 20 at Kensington Oval was a resounding success for us,” Leslie told NATION SPORT.
“We were very pleased with the attendances at the matches and the conditions presented to all teams in terms of the pitches, which was led by a curator, Winston Reid. His team comprised Richard Edwards, Nigel Newton, and a host of other key members who executed an excellent cricket surface for the teams involved.”
That surface played host to an entertaining final, as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons claimed their maiden CPL title with a commanding eight-wicket win over the Jamaica Kingsmen, chasing down 171 with 20 balls to spare.
Openers Rahkeem Cornwall and Ewin Lewis gave the Falcons a rapid start, before an unbeaten 89-run stand between Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz sealed the historic victory.
Legendary fast bowler
Legendary West Indian fast bowler and assistant coach of the triumphant Falcons, Sir Curtly Ambrose also spoke with NATION SPORT following the victory and credited the family atmosphere as a key reason behind the Falcons’ success.
The occasion was even more special for the Antiguan as Ambrose capped his 63rd birthday celebrations yesterday with the success.
“When we started the tournament, not many people gave us a chance of qualifying for the playoff rounds much less winning the championship outright. We believed that we had what it takes to win the title and we proved to everyone that we are a good enough team because we are the champions of this year’s CPL.
“Within the dressing room, nobody was put under pressure. We worked hard as a unit but we are a family and everyone has their say. That is one of the reasons we were so successful because nobody is under any pressure,” he said.
Leslie was also quick to point out that the high pitch quality wasn’t a one-off, but the product of sustained attention through the knockout rounds.
“For the elimination stage of this CPL tournament, the BCA would have had a very singular focus in presenting the best pitch and outfield for the players throughout that phase of the competition,” he said.
“Those who would have observed those matches would have noticed that the outfield was very well manicured and the pitches offered good conditions for both batters and bowlers. We are extremely happy with what was presented for CPL 2026.”
The numbers back him up.
Bowlers found plenty on offer at the Oval, with Guyana Amazon Warriors twice bowled out cheaply, for 99 and 78, by the Tridents and Falcons, respectively.
Afghan spinner Allah Mohammed Ghazanfar (317), Barbadian medium pacer Johann Layne (3-14), Pakistan’s Shadab Khan (4-16), as well as Moqim’s four for 13 against the Warriors, all took headlines for their multi-wicket hauls.
Centuries
Batters thrived just as easily, with Sadaquat, Quinton de Kock and Shimron Hetmyer each producing standout centuries or near-centuries across the home leg.
Before becoming the first CPL player to score a century in the final, 21-year-old Sadaquat scored an exhilarating century (112 runs) in the Eliminator to break Barbadian hearts and knock the Tridents out of the competition.
Earlier that day, de Kock sealed his place as the top run scorer in the competition with his score of 71 runs.
Also in a losing cause, Hetmyer smashed an unbeaten 112 runs from 45 balls to see the Warriors post 206 for four in the second qualifier.
Sadaquat also scored 41 runs on that day, but the heroes were closer to home for Jamaica as Keacy Carty (56) and captain Rovman Powell (40 unbeaten from 17 balls) saw them into the final.
However, it was the venue’s handling of the elements that Leslie seemed most proud.
“One of the positives would have been the fact that, irrespective of the heavy rains in one of the playoff matches, we were able to execute an eightover-per-side game for the women’s fixture in the earlier part of the day (September 16) and then also the full 20-over game,” he said.
“It shows that the drainage system worked superbly and that the ground staff, again led by Winston Reid, did a fantastic job in being able to ensure that the conditions were suitable for play.”
That resilience was tested directly during the Limacol Women’s Caribbean Premier League playoff match last Wednesday, when heavy overnight and morning rains and morning flooded parts of the island.
The Tridents managed just 69 for four from their allotment and Guyana Amazon Warriors chased it down with three balls to spare en route to a first title, beating Trinbago Knight Riders by two wickets. (JC)
