In a thrilling and rain-marred encounter, the Barbados Royals secured their third consecutive win in the ongoing T20 competition, defeating Antigua & Barbuda Falcons by 10 runs via the DLS method. Despite the valiant efforts of Justin Greaves and Sam Billings, who both scored half-centuries, the Falcons were unable to hold off the Royals. Quinton de Kock led the Royals’ chase with a brisk 48 before rain interrupted the proceedings, giving the Royals the advantage on DLS.
Falcons Set a Competitive Total
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Falcons got off to a flying start, thanks to a boundary-filled cameo from opener Brandon King. His knock of 27 from 19 balls, which included a lucky reprieve on 17, set the tone for the Falcons’ innings. Together with Justin Greaves, the pair shared a half-century stand during the PowerPlay, ending the first six overs with 54 runs on the board.
Despite King’s dismissal shortly after the PowerPlay, Greaves found a steady partner in Sam Billings, who initially took his time to settle in. The duo rebuilt the Falcons’ innings with a measured approach, bringing up their 50-run partnership just after the 13th over. The Falcons had crawled to 100 by that time, and it seemed as though they were struggling to break free.
Billings Fires Up the Death Overs
Sam Billings, who had been biding his time, suddenly switched gears in the 15th over, taking the attack to Obed McCoy. Four consecutive boundaries from Billings in one over sent the crowd into a frenzy and propelled the Falcons’ score beyond 140. Billings completed his half-century in just 33 balls, showcasing his ability to accelerate in the death overs.
However, Fabian Allen’s tight bowling in the 18th over brought the Falcons’ surge to a halt, picking up two wickets, including Billings’ prized scalp. Despite losing a few wickets in quick succession, the Falcons managed to post a respectable total of 176/5 in their 20 overs, thanks to some late blows from the lower order.
Royals Stumble Early but Recover
Chasing 177 for victory, the Royals had a shaky start, losing Rakheem Cornwall for a duck to Chris Green in just the second over. However, Quinton de Kock and Alick Athanaze steadied the ship for the Royals with a strong PowerPlay performance, scoring 48 runs for the loss of just one wicket.
Just as the partnership seemed to be flourishing, a poorly timed run-out cost the Royals Athanaze, who had made a promising 34 from 29 balls. At the halfway mark, the Royals were still behind the required rate, needing a big push from their middle order.
The Chaotic 12th Over
The turning point came in the chaotic 12th over, bowled by Roshon Primus, which seemed to stretch on for an eternity. It featured a mix of wides, no-balls, and the eventual dismissal of Quinton de Kock, who had smashed a six off a free hit just moments earlier. Despite the wicket, the over yielded a total of 23 runs, with David Miller adding a couple of boundaries off free hits. This over put the Royals in the driver’s seat as they edged ahead of the DLS par score.
The rain, which had been threatening all day, finally intervened just as the Royals reached 127/3 in the 14th over, 10 runs ahead on the DLS method. The players briefly returned to the field after a 30-minute break, but another spell of rain forced the game to be called off, with the Royals emerging victorious.
Key Performers
- Justin Greaves and Sam Billings were the standout performers for the Falcons, scoring 61 and 56 respectively, and adding 92 runs for the third wicket.
- For the Royals, Quinton de Kock played a vital role with his 48 from 28 balls, and Alick Athanaze chipped in with a useful 34.
- On the bowling front, Jason Holder (2-36) and Naveen-ul-Haq (2-34) were effective for the Royals, while Chris Green’s early breakthrough for the Falcons kept them in contention.
FAQs
Barbados Royals won the match by 10 runs using the DLS method.
The 12th over, bowled by Roshon Primus, was a crucial moment. It included wides, no-balls, and the dismissal of Quinton de Kock, but still yielded 23 runs, putting the Royals ahead on the DLS par score.
Justin Greaves and Sam Billings were the standout performers for the Falcons, while Quinton de Kock and Alick Athanaze shone for the Royals. On the bowling front, Jason Holder and Naveen-ul-Haq were effective for the Royals.
Conclusion
The Barbados Royals’ victory against Antigua & Barbuda Falcons underscores their dominance in the competition, with three consecutive wins now under their belt. Despite valiant efforts from Justin Greaves and Sam Billings, the Falcons couldn’t overcome the persistent rain and the might of Quinton de Kock’s blistering knock. With the tournament heating up, both teams will look to regroup and push forward, but for now, the Royals sit comfortably at the top.
