St Kitts Prevail in last ball thriller on CPL opening night

Jewel Andrew's unbeaten half-century and Shamar Springer's brilliant 4-29 in the middle overs both proved to be in vain as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots defeated Antigua and Barbados Falcons by just one wicket in a last-ball thriller on the opening night of CPL 2024.

Coming in to bat, the Falcons scored 163/4 thanks to opener Fakhar Zaman's 43 and Andrew's unbeaten half-century, which included a 61-run partnership with Fabian Allen. 

Anrich Nortje bowled his first over early on, but Zaman, along with Collie James (22 off 24 balls), put on a 60-run stand to get the team's batting back on track.

Tabraiz Shamsi broke this crucial partnership, denying the Pakistan opener a half-century by seven runs.

The Falcons actually lost both set batsmen in the space of nine balls, and three overs later Sam Billings slipped to 102/4 as the death overs approached.

Andrew, who was only running at a scant run-a-ball at the time, then took charge and helped the Falcons score 51 runs in the final six overs

And scored a half-century off 30 balls himself in the final over. Alan also played a brilliant innings of 24* off 17 balls, including two sixes, to help the Falcons post a competitive score.

Four of the Patriots' top-five got starts, but none could get it going easily, and Springer's spell put SNP in all sorts of trouble at 111/5.

Springer struck twice in his next overs, dismissing the set Evin Lewis and the dangerous Triston Stubbs. 

Kyle Mayers (39 off 24 balls) and Odean Smith (27 off 19 balls) had a brief 34-run partnership before Springer dismissed the latter and got Rilee Rossow out for a first ball duck.

However, Springer still kept his game going and took a brilliant boundary-line catch two overs later to end Mayers' innings. 

There was a brief collapse, which included the two-last overs with seven wickets required. 

But, Nortje kept his composure to help his team cross the finish line and get off to a winning start.

Scores: Antigua and Barbodas Falcons 163/4 in 20 overs (Jewel Andrew 50*, Fakhar zaman 43) lost to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 164/9 in 20 overs (Kyle Mayers 39, Shamar Springer 4-29, Roshon Primus 2-21) won by 1 wicket.