Moeen Ali’s Team Are CPL 2026 Champions, Pakistani Batter Creates History With Stunning Century
CPL Final 2026: Antigua and Barbuda Falcons defeated Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets at Kensington Oval to win their maiden Caribbean Premier League title. Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat smashed the first century in a CPL final, but Sufyan Moqim’s four-wicket haul and a composed chase from Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz sealed the trophy for Moeen Ali’s side.
The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons have finally got their hands on the Caribbean Premier League trophy.
Moeen Ali’s side produced a clinical performance in the CPL 2026 final, defeating the Jamaica Kingsmen by eight wickets at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Chasing 171, the Falcons reached 173/2 in just 16.4 overs to complete a memorable maiden title win.
The result was particularly impressive because Jamaica had a huge individual performance from Pakistan batter Maaz Sadaqat. The opener smashed 114 runs from only 58 balls, becoming the first player to score a century in a CPL final. His innings included eight fours and nine sixes and gave the Kingsmen a strong total of 170/9.
But one man’s brilliance was not enough to stop the Falcons.
Maaz Sadaqat makes CPL final history
Jamaica Kingsmen were asked to bat first after Antigua and Barbuda Falcons won the toss and elected to bowl.
Sadaqat immediately showed that he had arrived for the biggest game of the season. He smashed Jayden Seales for a six from the first delivery of the final and continued attacking throughout his innings.
After Kirk McKenzie fell for a duck, Sadaqat joined Keacy Carty and then Saim Ayub to rebuild the innings. His partnership with Ayub was especially important, with the pair adding 80 runs from 46 deliveries.
Sadaqat eventually reached his century and finished with a remarkable 114 from 58 deliveries. He struck eight boundaries and nine sixes, scoring at a stunning strike rate of 196.55.
Saim Ayub was the only other Jamaica batter to cross 20, making 29 from 22 balls. The rest of the Kingsmen batting order struggled against the Falcons’ bowling attack.
The final total of 170/9 looked competitive, but Sufyan Moqim had already changed the momentum of the game.
Sufyan Moqim turns the final around
While Sadaqat’s century grabbed the headlines, Pakistan’s Sufyan Moqim delivered the spell that ultimately decided the CPL final.
The left-arm spinner finished with outstanding figures of 4/14, restricting Jamaica’s middle and lower order when the Kingsmen were looking to accelerate. Alzarri Joseph also played his part with 2/27.
The Falcons therefore had a target of 171 to win their first-ever CPL championship.
And they wasted almost no time getting there.
Falcons make light work of 171-run chase
Rahkeem Cornwall gave the Falcons an explosive start, smashing 20 runs from the first over before being dismissed from the final delivery.
Evin Lewis then continued the attack and helped keep the required run rate under control. He scored 38 before falling in the eighth over, with the Falcons 84/2.
From there, Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz took complete control.
Jangoo played an outstanding finishing innings, remaining unbeaten on 57 from 34 balls. His knock included four fours and a six. Hasan Nawaz provided the perfect support, finishing unbeaten on 47 from 35 deliveries.
The pair added an unbeaten 89-run partnership to take the Falcons over the line.
The winning moment arrived with 20 balls still remaining, as Antigua and Barbuda Falcons finished on 173/2 in 16.4 overs. They won by eight wickets and became CPL champions for the first time.
Moeen Ali lifts his first CPL trophy with the Falcons
For Moeen Ali, the victory adds another major T20 achievement to his long career.
The England all-rounder captained Antigua and Barbuda Falcons throughout CPL 2026 and led the newly crowned champions in a final where different players stepped up at crucial moments.
Moqim’s four wickets restricted Jamaica after Sadaqat’s spectacular century. Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz then finished the chase without allowing the Kingsmen back into the contest.
That balance was the biggest difference between the two sides in the final.
The Falcons had also earned a direct route to the final after finishing second in the league stage. In Qualifier 1, they dismissed Guyana Amazon Warriors for just 76 and chased the target in only 32 balls, booking their place in the championship match.
A new name joins the CPL champions’ list
The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are now the seventh franchise to win the Caribbean Premier League.
Before 2026, six different franchises had lifted the trophy. Trinbago Knight Riders entered the season as the most successful team, with five titles, while Jamaica Tallawahs had won three and the Barbados franchise had two championships. Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Saint Lucia Kings had each won once.
The Falcons’ achievement is even more significant because the franchise had never previously won the competition.
They have now gone from contenders to champions in spectacular fashion.
The final also provided a fascinating contrast. Sadaqat produced one of the most destructive individual innings in CPL final history, yet the Falcons’ bowling unit prevented Jamaica from turning that century into a match-winning total.
Then Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz finished the job with a calm partnership.
For Jamaica Kingsmen, it was a frustrating end to their campaign. For Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, it was the beginning of a new chapter.
Their name will now sit alongside the established CPL champions.
And after years of waiting for their breakthrough, the Falcons have finally flown all the way to the trophy.
What a way to finish CPL 2026. Stay tuned with ROKOCRICKET for more cricket news, match updates, records and stories. Don’t forget to subscribe and share your thoughts on the Falcons’ historic title win in the comments.
