Latest update September 18th, 2026 10:11 AM
Grudge Match looming as Warriors/Falcons collide tonight
2026 Republic Bank CPL Playoffs… GAW vs. ABF
Both the Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons will be gunning that first clear-cut spot in this year’s CPL finals.
– Guyana eyeing revenge following first season loss to Antigua
By Clifton Ross
(Kaieteur News) – The stage is set for a blockbuster clash at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, as table-toppers Guyana Amazon Warriors take on the second-placed Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in Qualifier 1 of the 2026 Caribbean Premier League.
For the Warriors especially, this high-stakes encounter grants the winner a direct ticket to the grand final, with their story arc this season being played on the Guyana’s memories this season following their first loss all season at home too; at the claws of the Falcons.
Guyana Amazon Warriors’ absolute dominance defined their group-stage campaign as well as the final laps heading into the playoffs.
They secured 8 commanding wins out of 10 games to finish comfortably at the summit of the points table leading up to this point.
However, they enter the playoffs on the heels of a reality check, having been dismantled for a meager 99 runs in their final group match against the Barbados Tridents.
The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons have been the tournament’s biggest success story, gaining similar love and affection from their fanbase as well as the general community; quite similar to how the Warriors earned their tag as arguably the most beloved team in the history of the tournament; having made the finals more than most if not all the other franchises.
Reaching the playoffs for the first time in consecutive years, the Falcons finished second behind tonight’s opponents and will have their tails up heading into this battle.
Crucially, they hold a significant psychological edge over the Warriors, as they brutally snapped Guyana’s six-match unbeaten streak earlier this month with a massive 65-run victory.
The Batting Heavyweights: Guyana will rely heavily on Shai Hope, who remains a stabilizing anchor in their top order.
In-form batters Mavendra Dindyal, Glen Phillips, Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, with 263 runs, will hold down the top/middle-order.
The engine room, which features Quentin Sampson, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Romario Shepherd and possibly Ronaldo Alimohamed, will serve as the Warriors’ pinch-hitters.
For the Falcons, the aggressive Evin Lewis and the finishing power of Shadab Khan, who smoked 30 off just 9 balls in their last encounter, will spearhead the run-scoring efforts alongside former Warrior Mooen Ali, possibly Rahkeem Cornwall, Hasan Nawaz and Fabian Allen and others.
The Bowling Arsenal is evenly spaced between the two sides, with the match likely being decided by whoever can pull off a masterclass in spin and pace.
Guyana’s evergreen captain Imran Tahir has spearheaded their defence with 14 scalps, with his teammate Shamar Joseph trailing with 13 but backed by Mehidy, who has been collecting wickets by the handfuls since his short run, and Khary Pierre’s consistency.
Conversely, the Falcons feature a deadly weapon in Alzarri Joseph. Joseph ripped through the Warriors’ lineup with figures of 4 for 41 in their previous meeting, proving how lethal he can be on pitches offering true bounce, as he will no doubt be looking to add to his 14 wickets. The crafty Shadab will also come into play as the primary slower option alongside a string of quality part-timers. In all, with both teams looking to lessen their load and clip one of the two spots in the finals and possibly buy themselves an extra day or so to decompress ahead of the last hurdle, it will serve as a huge consolation prize for whoever emerges victorious come tonight.
Game time is set for 20:00h tonight.
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