'Not many gave us a chance' - celebrations begin after Falcons pull off CPL heist

"Words can't describe my feeling," Ambrose said on the broadcast, just before Sufyan Moqim, the Player of the Match in the final, had dedicated his award to Ambrose on the eve of his 63rd birthday. "When we started, not many gave us a chance. Falcons were never in the conversation. This tournament, we started to look like a well-oiled machine, a close-knit unit. But we believed from the very beginning that we have what it takes to win this championship. We finally did it."

Franchise cricket isn't anything like national-team cricket, but in the CPL, the teams are fairly closely aligned with the islands they represent. In Falcons' case, they represent fewer than 100,000 people - the population of the country is under 95,000, according to United Nations data. There were lots of Antiguans in attendance at the final in Bridgetown on Sunday night, and Ambrose said, "Every time you win, it generates interest."

"Honestly, that game, we were only defending 57 of [eight] overs and we almost won that game," Moeen pointed out. "From there, I just saw fight and I saw great determination from the guys, and I thought there's at least something great to work with, and then it was just getting [the combination] right.

"Having two wristspinners [Shadab Khan and Moqim], two pace guys up top [Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales], then two death bowlers [Shamar Springer and Joshua James], it's not always easy to combine, but I think the biggest difference was the players that came in and out for a couple of injuries in between, Karima Gore and Fabian Allen, guys that came in and out and it wasn't easy, but they made a huge difference."

It was still the highest target successfully chased in a CPL final.

"I think 170 in a final is normally a very good score, but I obviously [knew] the dew was going to come in. But to get 20 after the first five balls with the way Big Rahk [Rahkeem Cornwall] plays was outstanding," Moeen said. "It just sets the tone and everyone played a brilliant role. I really want to mention Jangoo's innings because a lot of people have been saying about his strike rate, etc. But he's always turned up and he's always got 20, 30 every time. And tonight, I had a gut feel, a few of us did, that he was going to do the job because he is that character, he's a run-scorer, and he's got brilliant fire in him."

For Paul Nixon, it was a third CPL title as coach, though the first two had come, back in 2013 and 2016, when he was with the now-defunct Jamaica Tallawahs.

"The guys have been immense here. We've been so committed, so clear," he said. "Mo's been an exceptional captain. Everybody's had an impact in the team and the dressing room, and it's been amazing. And I was just so proud for the Antiguans who backed us tonight. The boys played beautifully; Jangoo's had a great competition, seen it through in style. So proud, so humbled."