Trinbago Knight Riders vs Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, 24th Match, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - CommentaryTKR vs ABF, 24th Match, Caribbean Premier League 2026 - Commentary

With this loss, the doors are almost closed on TKR's playoff hopes. There's still a mathematical chance for them to qualify but it depends on a lot of uncontrollable factors. The Falcons strengthen their position at the top of the table with this win and have given themselves a good chance to make it to the playoffs. We might have seen Pollard don the red and black TKR outfit as a player for the last time in front of his home crowd. What a T20 legend he has been! On that note, we bid goodbye to one and all. Join us tomorrow for some more fast-paced action from the CPL. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!

Moeen Ali: (On what pleased him about this win?) I think the character we showed throughout the game actually from the start. I thought Rakheem started unbelievably well, obviously, and then just with that batting, Nawaz, yeah, you know, struggling a bit with form, but he was amazing tonight, great knock. Just the character even in the field, it was tough conditions in the end with a bit of dew, but we stuck in there. It looked like the game was going away from us when Pollard was in, but we still believed that we could win the game. (On posting 183) Yeah, I mean there was a period I thought it pretty at 160, 170, but it's a score. As long as the dew doesn't come too bad, and it didn't actually, but there was a bit of grip and it was still a little bit in the popper. Once we got to 180-odd, I thought, okay, now we're kind of definitely in because they got some great power, but I thought that was a very comfortable score in the end. (On the rationale behind using Cornwall in the powerplay in this game?) Yeah, match-ups or whatever you want to call it. He's a very, very good bowler. I think on this wicket in particular, the pace that he bowls, the length, he's very smart. He's got a brilliant cricket brain actually, generally. And yeah, he was outstanding tonight. He was the one guy in the powerplay actually that was unbelievable for us and actually probably won us the game in the end. (On his message to the group for their final league game) Yeah, against Guyana, a very, very good side. That's the one team that beat us badly and we want to try and come in the top two now and then have one game to the final. So that's our, the dream and the aim. So we want to keep winning, we want to keep playing well and performing and get the guys going well. I thought Springer again and Joshua outstanding again at the death.

Pooran (2/2): (On needing 56 off 5 overs and did he believe they could win it with Pollard out there?) Yeah, of course. What he did tonight obviously shows why he's probably the greatest T20 batter in the world. Still being able to go out and perform and still giving everybody hope. That says a lot about him and his character. He's been the wall of this franchise as well for a long time and to see him absorb all the pain, reapply pressure and still fight there, unfortunately for him and for us, he couldn't take us over the line. But I felt like him and Joshua himself have played really nicely. I felt like this was lovely to see Joshua absorbing pressure and playing in that way. But again, it wasn't meant to be this year. We were very far, very poor in the scruffy. And that's something we have to accept from our team, bowling in the past. Our team spinners not being able to get wickets for us. (On still a mathematical possibility for qualifying for the playoffs?) For me personally, it's all about the opportunity to play this game and continue to get better as players, continue to learn from the experience, continue to get mentally stronger as well, especially when things are not going your way. There's a lot of positives we can gain from the last couple of games. We have a lot to play for as well. So mathematically there's still a chance and hopefully once we can get better as a team and get a couple of results, you never know this game. But the fans have been special once more. Happy to see cricket back here in the Oval, seeing the red, black and white in the stands, that's something that's truly amazing. They're definitely our 12th man again, they're very disappointed that we let them down. But again, one bad season doesn't make us a really bad team. We had five championships, and that's five brilliant years this franchise has had something to smile about. And I just want to thank them from the bottom of our heart. Again, we know what it feels to be disappointed, but I just want to tell them thank you very much for your support.

Nicholas Pooran (1/1): (On where did they lose the game?) First of all, congratulations to the Falcons. We felt like they got away from us in the end there a bit. The spinners kept things tight. I think 185 obviously is a good score here. We know the dew is going to come, but losing four wickets in the powerplay is not acceptable. That's why I felt like we lost the game there, especially myself getting out in the sixth over in the powerplay there. (On the huddle after the third over of the innings and the rationale behind it?) I mean, that for sure, was unacceptable from us. We felt like it looked like we just gave up and we allowed the game to go away from us. And as a group, you can't play cricket like that. The other teams have really good players and they're going to hurt you. So once your body language is down like that and you're not up for a fight, then it makes no sense to play. But obviously the senior players, those up for it as well, and everybody accepted that we were poor in the field and it's time to back up. (On how did he assess the target of 184?) I mean, it was a good total for us, for us this is the type of tournament we have. Even Moeen Ali there getting dropped first ball, he's gonna cost you as much as he strikes at 150, he didn't allow wickets to fall. And that's obviously experience bringing to the fore and that's a big part in the game for us. We don't win matches as well. By saying that, the guys give their best. Obviously the best is not enough to say, and we have to accept the results and the results of the same.

Rakheem Cornwall | Player of the Match: (On his quickfire 20 with the bat) It was very important. My role in the team is to get the team off to a fast start in the powerplay, and tonight is one of those nights that I get off to a fast start. (On their team posting 183 on the board) On a half, I think it's a good total. I think once the ball gets a little bit older, then it would be tough to score, and we have very good bowlers, so I think the guys bowled very well. (On picking up a 3-fer in the powerplay and what was his plan against these batters?) I just try to get the ball in the right area and try to spin the ball as much as possible. Once I stick to my length, then there is no doubt that I will get success. (On whether it was a definitive plan from the skipper bowl him in the powerplay today?) Yeah, from the plans today, the skipper told me to bowl the second over of the game, and I found myself bowling three overs. (On what does this win do to their playoff chances?) This is very good for us. I think once we can see it through in the preliminaries, we will be very far in the tournament. (On limping around a bit to this interview) Just a little bit of hip pain. I get this from the last game in Antigua. Still suffering a little bit, but hopefully the physio will get me back up and running. I just want to dedicate this Man of the Match to my son. Tomorrow is his birthday, and I just want to say happy birthday, son.

22:57 Local Time, 02:57 GMT, 08:27 IST: Some really good bowling from the Falcons throughout the major course of the innings has allowed them to defend 183 quite nicely. A powerful batting performance in the death overs from the visitors helped them to finish with a flourish. In response, the hosts were pushed on the back foot in the powerplay courtesy Cornwall's 3-fer. TKR lost 4 wickets in the powerplay in that period and that dented them. Pooran holing out in the deep after a power-packed start was a major setback. Pollard started well and Greaves gave him some support before the latter was knocked over by Springer just after the timeout. Da Silva found his range once he got his eye in but Pollard slowed down and lost his timing. The hosts needed 42 off 4 overs and it was quite gettable for them with two set batters in. But the Falcons were terrific and only conceded 16 runs in the next three overs to almost seal the game for their side. James got the better of Pollard in that phase and that was a telling blow. Da Silva tried his best and hit some brilliant shots to raise a fifty but it was in a losing cause.