Patriots Fly High on Salamkheil’s 4-Wicket Masterclass in CPL 2025 Kickoff

The opening match of CPL 2025 delivered everything you want to see—fireworks, flair, and a hefty spoonful of spin-induced carnage. St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots not only defeated the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at Warner Park, but they also made them look foolish and had time to spare. And who was the catalyst for all this? Turning the Falcons’ innings inside out, Waqar Salamkheil’s left-arm spin became a blueprint for bowling brilliance.

Waqar’s Wizardry in the Middle Overs

If you blinked, you could have missed the collapse of the Falcons’ middle order; it was over before you knew it, because Salamkheil made it happen in a flash. Kyle Mayers, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Naseem Shah had drained every last drop from the top order, and when Salamkheil swooped in and sealed the deal. His 4 for 22 was not just a number, but it was a showcase of aggressive spin bowling. Flight, turn, and a bit of unpredictability had Shakib Al Hasan and Odean Smith back in the dugout before they knew it, both holing out in the same over. The Falcons appeared to be batting on quicksand, and Salamkheil made sure they sank quickly.

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Gore Fights, But the Cavalry Never Arrives

In all the carnage, Karima Gore produced an innings that was worth far more than the 61 runs it reads on paper. One warrior holding ground in a citadel built on sand. As he found boundaries, partners were walking back to the shed faster than CPL tickets were selling on opening night. Fabian Allen’s 12 was the next best score, which tells you all you need to know. Even Shakib’s brief cameo couldn’t save the day for the Falcons. When Gore fell in the 12th over, the innings was headed south. From there, it was best to limit the damage – 121 all out in 17.1 overs seemed enviously below par on a Warner Park surface that didn’t exactly require assault rifles.

Lewis’ Powerplay Party & Athanaze’s Calm Finish

The Falcons probably thought that early wickets would allow them to launch a comeback, but Evin Lewis had other ideas. Two enormous sixes (one was 98 meters) from Jayden Seales and a flurry of fours got the party started. Mayers struck two fours in a row before hammering a huge six, wrapping up the PowerPlay at 55/1. There was a bit of a wobble as Rakheem Cornwall struck twice in the seventh over, but Alick Athanaze calmed the ship with his cool and calculated approach. Chasing at 76/4, he paced the innings to finish unbeaten on 37 from 28 balls, sealing the victory with a boundary in the 15th over.

For the Patriots, the outcome could not have been much better — powerful bowling, incisive batting, and an avalanche of proof that the Patriots are serious about this season. For the Falcons, it is an alarm: CPL 2025 is not a place for slow starts or delicate middle orders. The first notable mark on the tournament scoreboard comes courtesy of Salamkheil. The question remains: who will be next in the crosshairs of Salamkheil’s spinner?