Shadab and Alzarri end Amazon Warriors' unbeaten run and take Falcons to top of table

A blistering finish with the bat from Shadab Khan, followed by a clinical fast-bowling display from Alzarri Joseph, brought an abrupt end to the Guyana Amazon Warriors' unbeaten run in CPL 2026. The 65-run victory hoisted the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons to the top of the standings with 13 points, edging ahead of the Warriors (12 points), who still hold three games in hand. Late Fireworks Flip the Script For the first 17 overs of the match, the Amazon Warriors looked well in control after electing to bowl. The Falcons' top order found it tough to break free against a disciplined attack led by Imran Tahir. Karima Gore, Evin Lewis, Amir Jangoo, and Hasan Nawaz (36) all made starts, but none managed to push their strike rates above 135. With Antigua sitting at 122 for 4 entering the final stretch, projections placed their total around 151. The trajectory changed dramatically when the Falcons' middle-order big hitters took over. Moeen Ali scored a quickfire 18 off 12 balls, while Fabian Allen added an unbeaten 11 off seven. The ultimate shift came courtesy of Shadab Khan, who produced a breathtaking cameo, smashing 30 not out off just nine deliveries with two fours and three sixes. In a chaotic final three overs, the Falcons ransacked 60 runs—41 of which were taken off Romario Shepherd across the 18th and 20th overs—to propel their side to a imposing 182 for 5. Joseph Leads the Collapse Faced with a steep chase of 183, the Amazon Warriors came out swinging. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mavendra Dindyal launched a fiery opening assault, posting 33 runs in just 14 balls. However, the momentum vanished instantly when Alzarri Joseph stepped up to bowl the third over. Joseph struck a double blow in his first over, removing both Gurbaz and Shai Hope to halt the charge. Returning in his second over, he dismissed Dindyal for 25 off 13 balls—what would end up being the top score of the Amazon Warriors' innings. From there, Guyana's lineup folded into a tailspin. Seamer Joshua James alongside wrist-spin duo Shadab Khan and Sufyan Moqim controlled the middle overs seamlessly, taking two wickets apiece. Shadab added to his stellar night by picking up 2 for 19 in his four overs, while Moqim shut down the lower order with 2 for 18. The Amazon Warriors were bundled out for 117 in just 14.2 overs. Joseph completed his spell with figures of 4 for 41, lifting his season tally to 14 wickets and putting him second on the tournament's leading wicket-takers list.