ARNOS VALE, St Vincent (CMC) — In a finish that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons launched their 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League campaign with a last-ball thriller, edging out the Jamaica Kingsmen by the narrowest of margins at the Arnos Vale Stadium.

Chasing a modest 168 for victory, the Falcons found themselves needing just six runs from the final over. What followed was pure drama.

Hunain Shah, bowling with ice in his veins, claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Jahmar Hamilton and Usama Mir, both caught spectacularly on the boundary, to swing momentum violently back toward the Kingsmen.

But cricket is a game of cruel twists. With two runs needed and one ball remaining, Shamar Springer nudged the ball toward long-on, where Kingsmen captain Rovman Powell fumbled in the field.

Springer and Alzarri Joseph scrambled back for two dramatic runs, sealing a two-wicket victory that felt stolen from the jaws of defeat.

The Falcons’ run chase was anchored by a magnificent innings from Tajinder Singh, who smashed 62 runs off just 37 deliveries.

His aggressive strokeplay kept the required rate in check, particularly after a 64-run, third-wicket partnership with New Zealander Tim Robinson that laid the platform for the chase with a workmanlike 40.

Local boy Rahkeem Cornwall also entertained the crowd with a brisk 24 from 21 balls.

Earlier, the Falcons’ bowling attack, featuring West Indian pace duo Alzarri Joseph 3-34 and Jayden Seales 1-19, alongside Pakistan’s Usama Mir 1-17, produced an international-quality performance to restrict the Kingsmen to 167-7.

Reeza Hendricks (right) of Jamaica Kingsmen plays a shot while Antigua & Barbuda Falcons wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton looks on during their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League T20 match in Arnos Vale, St Vincent on Friday night. (Photo: CPL Media)

South African debutant Reeza Hendricks provided the Kingsmen’s early fireworks, exploding in the sixth over with 28 runs off Karima Gore’s bowling. The right-hander finished with a fluent 42 from 25 balls in his first CPL appearance.

Captain Rovman Powell’s composed 47 was the backbone of the innings, though the Kingsmen struggled for fluency throughout the middle overs.

A solitary, six-ball cameo from Keemo Paul, who made 16, helped inject some late urgency, with 54 runs added in the final four overs.

Keemo Paul was the pick of the Kingsmen bowlers, returning impressive figures of 3-29. But it was Andre Russell who made the headlines, reaching two significant milestones in his four-over spell.

The all-rounder removed Robinson for his 100th CPL wicket before dismissing Singh for his 101st, sparking a middle-order collapse that kept the Kingsmen in the contest.

When Hunain Shah conceded 19 runs in his over, the Falcons appeared to be cruising with just 20 needed from the final three overs.

But Russell’s penultimate-over fightback gave Shah a fighting chance in the final over, a chance that ultimately ended in heartbreak for the Jamaica-based side.

The Falcons, however, will take immense confidence from a victory that showcased both their resilience and their ability to perform under pressure as they look to build momentum in the tournament.