Gous Goes Big as Saint Lucia Kings Edge the Falcons by 4 Runs
Published on August 10, 2026
Summary Overview: Andries Gous's 82 and a disciplined spin display gave the Saint Lucia Kings a 4-run win over the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons in a high-scoring CPL 2026 clash. Full report and scorecard.
Gous Goes Big as Saint Lucia Kings Edge the Falcons by 4 Runs
By Cricket Daily
Saint Lucia Kings could not have asked for a better start to their Caribbean Premier League 2026 campaign. A brilliant 82 from wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous set up a big total, and their spinners held their nerve at the death to beat the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons by 4 runs at Arnos Vale in St Vincent. In a high-scoring, see-sawing contest, the Kings had just enough.
Gous lights up the Kings innings
Batting first, the Kings rode almost entirely on the bat of Andries Gous. The USA international opener took the Falcons' attack apart, racing to 82 from just 51 balls with six fours and six sixes, an innings of real class and power that gave Saint Lucia their platform.
For newcomers, a strike rate, the number of runs a batter scores per 100 balls, tells you how quickly someone is scoring. Gous struck at over 160, which is exactly the kind of tempo that wins T20 matches. He found little consistent support in the middle order, with Ackeem Auguste's 18 the next best of the top order, but the Kings finished with a flourish. Late cameos from McKenny Clarke, who smashed 15 not out from just 5 balls, and Shadley van Schalkwyk, 10 not out from 4, lifted them to a strong 187 for 8.
The Falcons will feel they let Saint Lucia off the hook slightly after Gous fell, but the damage was done. Alzarri Joseph was again the pick of their bowlers with 3 for 32, continuing his fine start to the tournament, while Shamar Springer took 2 for 39.
The Falcons fly, then fall short
Chasing 188, the Falcons came out swinging and very nearly pulled it off. Their powerplay, the first six overs, was explosive, yielding 65 runs as Rahkeem Cornwall blasted 27 from 13 balls and Evin Lewis took over with a thrilling 48 from 24, including five sixes. At the halfway point, Antigua were ahead of the game.
Then Saint Lucia's spinners changed the story. Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana was superb, taking 2 for 18 from his four overs, and captain Roston Chase matched him with 2 for 18 of his own, both conceding barely four runs an over on a good batting surface. Squeezing the middle overs and picking up regular wickets was the difference, drying up the boundaries just as the Falcons needed to accelerate.
Tim Robinson made 30 and Tajinder Singh added 21, but wickets kept falling at the wrong times. It came down to a final push, and captain Fabian Allen did his best with an unbeaten 28 from 17 balls, but the Falcons ended on 183 for 7, agonisingly 4 runs short. Winning "by 4 runs" simply means the Kings' total was 4 more than the Falcons could manage in their 20 overs.
Player of the match
Andries Gous was the obvious choice for player of the match. His 82 was the backbone of the Kings' total, and on a night when both teams passed 180, his was the standout individual innings and ultimately the margin of victory.
What it means
For Saint Lucia Kings, this is a hugely encouraging start under new captain Roston Chase, who led from the front with both his canny off-spin and his calm control of the chase. Beating a strong Falcons batting line-up while defending a total shows they can win tight games, and Gous looks like an inspired signing at the top of the order.
For the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, it is a first defeat after their thrilling last-ball win in the tournament opener. They will be frustrated to have come so close chasing a big score, but the way their batting fired offers plenty of encouragement. Fine margins, and this time they fell on the wrong side of them.
Keep it locked to Cricket Daily for match updates, results, and full CPL 2026 coverage.
Full scorecard
Saint Lucia Kings 187-8 (20 overs)
| Batter | Status | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Andries Gous (wk) | c Evin Lewis b Springer | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Kamil Pooran | c Cornwall b Fabian Allen | 14 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Ackeem Auguste | b Rahkeem Cornwall | 18 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| Jewel Andrew | c Tim Robinson b Usama Mir | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Roston Chase (c) | c Hamilton b Alzarri Joseph | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Darron Nedd | c Fabian Allen b Alzarri Joseph | 13 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Matthew Forde | c Seales b Alzarri Joseph | 15 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Joshua Bishop | b Shamar Springer | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Shadley van Schalkwyk | not out | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| McKenny Clarke | not out | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 1) | 5 | |||
| Total | 8 wkts, 20 overs | 187 |
Did not bat: Maheesh Theekshana.
Bowling: Fabian Allen 3-0-25-1, Jayden Seales 4-0-42-0, Alzarri Joseph 4-0-32-3, Usama Mir 4-0-41-1, Rahkeem Cornwall 1-0-4-1, Shamar Springer 4-0-39-2.
Antigua & Barbuda Falcons 183-7 (20 overs)
| Batter | Status | R | B | 4s | 6s |
| Rahkeem Cornwall | c and b Maheesh Theekshana | 27 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
| Evin Lewis | c Darron Nedd b Joshua Bishop | 48 | 24 | 2 | 5 |
| Tim Robinson | c Auguste b Maheesh Theekshana | 30 | 20 | 2 | 2 |
| Tajinder Singh | c Matthew Forde b Roston Chase | 21 | 21 | 2 | 0 |
| Karima Gore | c and b Roston Chase | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jahmar Hamilton (wk) | run out (Matthew Forde) | 10 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Fabian Allen (c) | not out | 28 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| Shamar Springer | c Darron Nedd b Matthew Forde | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Extras | (b 1, lb 1, w 11) | 13 | |||
| Total | 7 wkts, 20 overs | 183 |
Did not bat: Usama Mir, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales.
Bowling: Matthew Forde 4-0-47-1, Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-18-2, Joshua Bishop 3-0-37-1, Shadley van Schalkwyk 3-0-29-0, McKenny Clarke 2-0-32-0, Roston Chase 4-0-18-2.
Result: Saint Lucia Kings won by 4 runs. Player of the match: Andries Gous.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the third match of CPL 2026?
The Saint Lucia Kings, who beat the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons by 4 runs at Arnos Vale in St Vincent.
Who was the player of the match?
Andries Gous, whose 82 from 51 balls powered the Kings to 187 for 8.
How did Saint Lucia defend their total?
Their spinners, Maheesh Theekshana and captain Roston Chase, took two wickets each and conceded just 18 runs apiece to squeeze the Falcons in the middle overs.
Who starred for the Falcons?
Evin Lewis hit 48 from 24 balls and captain Fabian Allen finished 28 not out, but the Falcons fell 4 runs short.
Was this a high-scoring game?
Yes. Both teams passed 180, but the Kings' 187 for 8 just edged the Falcons' 183 for 7.