Antigua and Barbuda Falcons enjoyed a dream beginning to their defense after setting a target of 156 runs against Barbados Tridents during their Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026 clash. While the Tridents needed a solid opening to hunt down the total, Daniel Sams completely disrupted their plans. The Aussie fast bowler unleashed a stunning yorker on the very first delivery of the innings to dismiss Rahkeem Cornwall for a duck.
This immediate wicket provided the Falcons with crucial momentum, setting the tone for a highly clinical display with the ball. The Tridents never truly got back on track after this initial blow and fell short of the target, allowing the Falcons to secure an important 30-run win.
Daniel Sams bowls an absolute peach to remove Cornwall
It took Sams only one ball to leave his mark on the match. Bowling an accurate inswinging yorker clocked at 131.9kph, he aimed directly at the bottom of the off stump. Cornwall tried to clear his front leg to hit big but was caught completely static. The ball slipped right beneath his bat, rattling the woodwork.
The powerhouse opener could only look back in disappointment as his stumps lay in ruins. Cornwall walked back for a golden duck, handing Sams a wicket on the match’s opening delivery.
Watch the sensational dismissal here:
WHAT A START!!! 🤯
A wicket off the first ball of the match by Daniel Sams! 🇦🇬 x 🇧🇧#CPL26 #ABFvBT #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport #Carib pic.twitter.com/ef3h2CreR8
— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 25, 2026
Moeen Ali’s late fireworks power Falcons to a match-winning total
The Falcons had to deal with their own batting challenges early on. While Amir Jangoo, Karima Gore, and Hasan Nawaz worked to rebuild the innings, Barbados looked to be dictating the tempo. However, Moeen Ali turned the game on its head after coming in at five. After a cautious start, he exploded in the final over, hitting Sams for three back-to-back maximums.
Moeen remained not out on 56, supported by Shamar Springer who chipped in with a 16-ball 19, completing a vital 75-run partnership off 41 balls. This late surge guided the Falcons to a total of 155/5. In response, Barbados collapsed to 125, with Rivaldo Clarke leading their scoring with just 27 runs. Joshua James starred with the ball, taking 3/18, while Alzarri Joseph, Shadab Khan, and Sufyan Moqim secured crucial breakthroughs. The Tridents were dismissed in the 18th over, securing a 30-run triumph for the Falcons and propelling them to the pinnacle of the CPL 2026 standings.
