TKR vs ABF Prediction & Match Preview – CPL 2026, 24th Match
Match summary
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons won by 8 runs (played at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain): Trinbago Knight Riders 175/7 (20 ov), Antigua and Barbuda Falcons 183/4 (20 ov). Player of the match: Rahkeem Cornwall.
Our preview of Trinbago Knight Riders vs Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in CPL 2026 at Brian Lara Stadium: likely XIs, pitch, weather and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | Trinbago Knight Riders vs Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, 24th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Caribbean Premier League 2026 |
| Date | 2 Sep 2026 |
| Start time | 11:00 pm GMT / 7:00 pm local |
| Venue | Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad |
| Status | Result |
| Result | Antigua and Barbuda Falcons won by 8 runs (played at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain) |
| Player of the match | Rahkeem Cornwall |
| Our pick | Antigua and Barbuda Falcons ✓ |
| Toss pick | Trinbago Knight Riders |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Trinbago Knight Riders face Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the 24th match of CPL 2026 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The home side again look to a top order of Colin Munro, Sunil Narine, Alex Hales and captain Nicholas Pooran, backed by Kieron Pollard and Matthew Tromp, with Akeal Hosein and Usman Tariq leading the bowling.
The Falcons are captained by Moeen Ali and have a balanced squad. Rahkeem Cornwall, Amir Jangoo and Hasan Nawaz form the batting core, Shadab Khan provides spin and all-round skill, and Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales offer pace. Their wider group includes Evin Lewis, Kusal Perera and Fabian Allen.
A mid-evening start in Trinidad means the toss could be important. Whoever wins may well bowl first and look to chase if the dew comes in. Either way, a strong finish from the batting side could make the difference in a match that looks closely matched.
The Brian Lara Stadium wicket tends to be even but a touch tricky. There is decent pace and bounce early, so the quicks can use the new ball, and the surface slows later, which brings spinners and slower variations into the game. Batters who stay in can score freely, though changes of pace and uneven bounce can make timing awkward. In the evening dew may help the chasing side. A first-innings total of 150–165 is competitive, 160-plus is good and 170-plus is very strong.
Warm, humid conditions with partly cloudy skies are expected at match time. The chance of rain looks fairly low, although a passing shower or isolated storm cannot be ruled out. Humidity should stay high and light to moderate winds may help the bowlers. If it stays dry, dew could appear later and make batting easier in the second innings.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 160–175 | 175/7 (20 ov) |
| Second innings | 150–165 | 183/4 (20 ov) |
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
We lean towards Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, with Moeen Ali, Shadab Khan and a quick pace pair of Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales. Bowling first should be a slight advantage.
Toss pick: Trinbago Knight Riders
FAQ
Who is expected to win TKR vs ABF?
Our preview picks Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, with Trinbago Knight Riders expected to win the toss.
What is a competitive score?
A first-innings total of about 170 should be competitive, while 180-plus would put heavy pressure on the chasing side.
Which phase could decide the game?
The final five overs. Scoring can speed up considerably at the death if teams still have wickets in hand.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Trinbago Knight Riders
- Colin Munro
- Sunil Narine
- Alex Hales
- Nicholas Pooranc, wk
- Kieron Pollard
- Matthew Tromp
- Jyd Goolie
- Dominic Drakes
- Akeal Hosein
- Abdul Toppin
- Usman Tariq
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons
- Rahkeem Cornwall
- Amir Jangoowk
- Karima Gore
- Hasan Nawaz
- Joshua James
- Moeen Alic
- Shadab Khan
- Shamar Springer
- Sufyan Moqim
- Alzarri Joseph
- Jayden Seales
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Trinbago Knight Riders and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons that we covered.