Moeen and James lead rout of Tridents to take Falcons back to the top

On a tricky North Sound pitch where most batters struggled for timing, a late-innings masterclass from skipper Moeen Ali and a disciplined collective effort with the ball propelled the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to a crucial 30-run victory over the Barbados Tridents. The win leaves the Falcons sitting back at the top of the CPL 2026 points table. Coming off a tough loss against Guyana Amazon Warriors just two days prior, the Falcons needed a spark. After losing the toss to Chris Green, things went from bad to worse on the very first ball of the match when Rahkeem Cornwall was clean-bowled by a pinpoint Daniel Sams yorker. Amir Jangoo anchored early rebuilding efforts alongside Karima Gore and Hasan Nawaz, but the scoring rate remained sluggish against a disciplined Tridents attack. When Moeen walked out at No. 5, the innings was in serious danger of stalling altogether. The Late Blitz Moeen took his time to adjust to the surface, hovering around a run-a-ball 12 in the middle overs. Joined by Shamar Springer, the pair stabilized the lower middle order before turning up the heat in the final overs. Their unbroken 75-run partnership off just 41 balls transformed the contest. The real shift came in the final over bowled by Daniel Sams. Sitting on a modest total, Moeen unleashed a sequence of three consecutive sixes off the first three balls, taking 20 runs from the over. Moeen finished on an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls (featuring three fours and four sixes), driving the Falcons up to 155 for 5—a score that proved well beyond the Tridents' reach. Tridents Stumble in Stiff Chase In response, the Barbados Tridents struggled to build momentum. Alzarri Joseph struck early during the powerplay, removing both openers, Shian Brathwaite and Zachary Carter, to leave Tridents at a shaky 45 for 2. Rivaldo Clarke top-scored for the Tridents with 27, while Kevlon Anderson chipped in with a brisk 22, but the Falcons' bowling attack consistently squeezed the middle order. The key blow came with the first-ball dismissal of danger-man Sherfane Rutherford, courtesy of a brilliant boundary catch by substitute fielder Anderson Phillip. James and the Spinners Seal the Win Joshua James produced a match-winning spell, taking 3 for 18 to derail the Tridents' chase and earning the Player of the Match honors. Pakistani spin duo Shadab Khan (2-23) and Sufyan Moqim (2-36) tied down the rest of the order, bowling out the Tridents for just 125 in the 18th over. While the Falcons move back to the summit of the table, their position remains tested as they have played seven matches—more than any other side in the competition. However, this gritty performance puts their campaign firmly back on track. Match Summary: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons: 155 for 5 (Moeen Ali 56*, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-32) Barbados Tridents: 125 all out in 18 overs (Rivaldo Clarke 27, Joshua James 3-18, Alzarri Joseph 2-12, Shadab Khan 2-23) Result: Falcons won by 30 runs Player of the Match: Joshua James (3-18)