CPL 2024: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons devastated in Quinton de Kock’s storm

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons faced another loss against Barbados Royals in the fourth match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024. Quinton de Kock, as the opener of the Royals, played the winning knock and dominated the opposing bowlers.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, playing at its home ground at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, disappointed their fans one more time as it was their third consecutive loss in CPL 2024. The target set by the team was 146 runs, which was already low as per the T20 cricket norms.

The smashing inning of South African cricketer Quinton de Kock, playing for the Barbados Royals made the total score on the board look easily attainable. The 31-year-old batsman scored 87 runs for the team in his not-out inning of 45 balls.

With a strike rate of 193.33, Quinton delivered 9 balls for boundary and 5 maximums over the heads. With his single-handed hitting, Barbados Royals won their first match in the schedule and started their venture with winning points on the table.

The toss was won by the Royals Captain Rovman Powell, who decided to bring his players to the field first and chase later. Powell’s decision showed up to be right as the bowlers of Barbados Royals restricted the batting line-up of Falcons to a total of 145 runs.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons lost their 9 batsmen till the end of 20 dedicated overs. After two forties, Fakhar Zaman failed to add good numbers to the team total and lost his wicket at a personal score of 17 runs in 11 balls.

Meanwhile, Jewel Andrew struggled on the pitch alone and eventually got bowled out just short of two runs from his half-century. Andrew was dismissed on the delivery of Obed McCoy when he was on 48 runs after playing 35 balls, and the team was on 122 runs for 17.2 overs.

Obed McCoy was the most successful bowler for Barbados Royals, who took 3 wickets after giving 31 runs in his 4 overs. Maheesh Theekshana and Jason Holder also collected 2 wickets each in their 4 overs spells.

To answer the total of 145 runs, Quinton de Kock came to take strike in the chasing inning along with Rahkeem Cornwall, a cricketer from Antigua, for Barbados Royals. The opening partnership collected 80 runs for the team, which was broken in the first over after the powerplay.

Rahkeem Cornwall left the ground after facing 20 balls on his home turf. He scored 34 runs with the help of 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. Cornwall dismissal by Imad Wasim was the only wicket fallen in the entire inning.

However, Quinton de Kock’s show went uninterrupted after Sharmarh Brooks joined him on the first dawn. Brooks played a supporting part and collected 21 runs in 28 balls, not out without a boundary, while on the other end, de Kock kept smashing the bowling attack of the Falcons.

The match target was achieved with a sixer in the sixteenth over of the match. The final score was 149 runs for 1 wicket after 15.3 overs. The result of CPL 2024’s Match-4 went in favor of Barbados Royals with 9 wickets in hands and 27 balls left. Quinton de Kock became Man of the Match.