Gous Guides Falcons to Last-Ball Win, Royals Still Winless in CPL 2025
A masterful unbeaten 85 from Andries Gous helped Antigua and Barbuda Falcons pull off a thrilling last-ball win over Barbados Royals in the 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The four-wicket victory at Kensington Oval marked the Falcons' first away win of the season and left the Royals languishing at the bottom of the points table, still searching for their first victory.
Chasing 188 for victory, Falcons relied heavily on Gous’ calm presence at the crease. The South African batter paced his innings beautifully, smashing five fours and four sixes in his 53-ball knock. However, the chase almost slipped away due to cautious running between the wickets and a tense final over.
With 12 needed off the last six balls, Royals skipper Rovman Powell handed the ball to part-timer Sherfane Rutherford, who had not bowled in 26 T20 matches. Rutherford struggled with his lines early, delivering three wides in his first four balls. The equation came down to two runs off the final delivery after Imad Wasim was run out attempting a second. Local hero Shamar Springer held his nerve to collect a couple and seal a dramatic victory.
Fielding Woes Haunt Royals
Barbados Royals’ winless run continued largely due to sloppy fielding. Chris Green had a night to forget, dropping four catches during the Falcons’ innings, while Daniel Sams shelled two more. The missed chances allowed Falcons to keep the chase alive despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Openers Gous and Amir Jangoo provided a flying start, racing to 38 in four overs before Jangoo was dismissed by Sams. Kevin Wickham (26) survived two dropped chances by Green before eventually falling, while Shakib Al Hasan and Fabian Allen couldn’t convert starts. But Gous held firm to anchor the innings till the end.
King’s Lone Hand in Royals’ Total
Earlier, Brandon King played a stellar lone hand for the Royals, finishing unbeaten on 98 off 61 balls. His knock included a burst of boundaries between overs 6 and 10 and a brutal assault on Jayden Seales, from whom he took 18 in an over. Despite King’s fireworks, Royals managed just 38 runs in the last four overs.
Salman Irshad’s excellent death bowling (2 for 13) stalled the Royals’ late surge, dismissing Powell and Rassie van der Dussen with skiddy, stump-rattling deliveries. Quinton de Kock, who scored a labored 27 off 28, was run out during a mix-up.
With this win, Falcons solidified their third-place position in the table, while the Royals are left reeling with just one point from six matches, their playoff hopes fading fast.
Match Summary:
Barbados Royals – 187/4 (Brandon King 98*, Rutherford 29; Irshad 2-13)
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons – 188/6 (Andries Gous 85*, Wickham 26; Sams 3-29)
Result: Falcons won by 4 wickets (last ball)
Player of the Match: Andries Gous (85* off 53)