Caribbean Tigers Dominate Falcons with 7-Wicket Win in MAX60 Clash
The Caribbean Tigers chased down 90 runs in just 8.2 overs to beat Grand Cayman Falcons by 7 wickets in the 19th MAX60 match at George Town. Josh Brown starred with a quickfire 49 off 24 balls, while Saurin Thakar took 2 wickets for the Falcons. Tigers remain unbeaten in the tournament.
On July 21, 2025, at Jimmy Powell Oval in the Cayman Islands, the Caribbean Tigers put on a batting spectacle in the 19th match of the MAX60 Caribbean tournament, chasing down the Grand Cayman Falcons’ total of 89/7 with remarkable ease. The Tigers, having won the toss and chosen to field, stifled the Falcons’ batting with tight bowling and sharp fielding, limiting them to a below-par score in the 10-over format. In response, the Tigers, powered by a ferocious knock from Josh Brown, reached the target of 90 runs in just 8.2 overs, clinching a seven-wicket win.
Chirag Gandhi Helps Falcons Reach 89 Runs
The Grand Cayman Falcons batted first after the Tigers opted to bowl. The innings got off to a rocky start when opener Cameron Delport was dismissed for a duck on the fourth ball, edging an Isuru Udana delivery to Gerhard Erasmus. This early setback signalled trouble for the Falcons, who struggled to gain traction. Chandrapaul Hemraj, the other opener, tried to fight back, hitting a boundary to get going, but his stay was brief. Andrew Tye, the Australian fast bowler, removed Hemraj for 7 runs off 5 balls in the second over, caught by Shubham Ranjane, leaving the score at 13/2.
The Falcons’ woes deepened in the third over when Rishi Dhawan, after scoring 7 off 8 balls with a boundary, was caught by Davion Codner off Udana, making it 17/3. Captain and wicketkeeper JP Kotze tried to spark a revival with a quick 7 off 4 balls, including a six, but JJ Smit bowled him with a pinpoint full delivery in the fourth over, reducing the Falcons to 27/4. Chirag Gandhi became the cornerstone of the Falcons’ innings, battling through the middle overs with an unbeaten 34 off 22 balls. His knock, which included one four and three sixes at a strike rate of 154.54, blended caution with well-timed aggression.
Gandhi found a brief ally in Deno McInnis, who scored 11 off 8 balls with a four and a six, but McInnis fell to Romeo Dunka in the sixth over, caught by Tye, with the score at 55/5. Jack Jarvis injected some momentum with a brisk 16 off 9 balls, hitting two fours at a strike rate of 177.77. His 31-run stand with Gandhi raised hopes of a late push, but Junaid Siddique’s ninth over turned the tide.
Siddique dismissed Jarvis, caught by Udana, and then removed Saurin Thakar for a first-ball duck, caught by Erasmus, leaving the Falcons at 86/7. Malinda Pushpakumara, unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball, stood with Gandhi as the Falcons closed at 89/7, boosted slightly by 6 extras (5 wides, 1 leg bye). The Tigers’ bowlers were relentless, with Udana leading the charge at 2/12, supported by Siddique’s 2/9, Tye’s 1/20, Smit’s 1/16, and Dunka’s economical 1/4. The Falcons’ run rate of 8.90 was modest on a pitch that favoured batsmen, setting up an achievable chase for the Tigers.
Josh Brown’s Innings Help Tigers Chase the Target Easily
The Caribbean Tigers’ chase of 90 runs kicked off with a blistering display from opener Josh Brown, a substitute for Junaid Siddique. Brown tore into the Falcons’ bowling, smashing 49 off 24 balls with three fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 204.16. From the first ball, he attacked, targeting the short boundaries at Jimmy Powell Oval and putting the Falcons’ bowlers on the back foot. His partner, Dilpreet Bajwa, provided a fiery cameo of 8 off 4 balls, including a six, before Saurin Thakar bowled him in the second over, leaving the score at 15/1. Bajwa’s exit barely disrupted the Tigers, as Brown found a steady partner in Shubham Ranjane.
Brown and Ranjane built a crucial 65-run partnership for the second wicket, taking the Tigers to 80/2 by the seventh over. Ranjane played a measured role, scoring 16 off 12 balls with a six, at a strike rate of 133.33. Their stand featured clever running and well-placed boundaries, keeping the required run rate comfortably in check. Brown dominated the powerplay, punishing any loose deliveries. Alistair Ifill had a tough outing, conceding 23 runs in a single over as Brown launched towering sixes. Miguel Cummins, opening the bowling, gave away 7 runs in his only over, while Jack Jarvis struggled, leaking 22 runs in 1.2 overs, including three wides that highlighted the Falcons’ lack of discipline.
Saurin Thakar offered the Falcons a lifeline, dismissing Brown for 49 in the seventh over, caught by Chirag Gandhi just short of a fifty. Thakar struck again soon after, bowling Ranjane for 16, leaving the Tigers at 80/3. With only 10 runs needed, JJ Smit (2 not out off 7 balls) and Andrew Tye (6 not out off 3 balls, including a four) calmly guided the team home. Tye’s boundary in the ninth over sealed the victory with 10 balls to spare, as the Tigers finished at 90/3. The Falcons’ bowlers conceded 9 extras (5 wides, 2 byes, 2 leg byes), which further eased the chase.
Thakar was the pick of the Falcons’ bowlers, finishing with 2/13 in two overs, dismissing both Brown and Bajwa. Malinda Pushpakumara chipped in with 1/13, removing Ranjane, but the rest of the attack faltered. Kevon Bazil (0/8) and Cummins (0/7) were tidy but wicketless, while Jarvis and Ifill’s high economy rates underscored the Tigers’ batting dominance. The Tigers’ run rate of 10.80 reflected their aggressive approach, with Brown’s explosive knock setting the tone for a comfortable victory.
TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game
The match’s pivotal moment came in the 10th over of the Falcons’ innings, when Junaid Siddique delivered a game-changing over for the Caribbean Tigers, earning the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game. Siddique’s solitary over was a display of precision under pressure, as he claimed two wickets in consecutive balls to halt the Falcons’ late surge. With the score at 86/5, Siddique dismissed Jack Jarvis, who had scored a quick 16 off 9 balls at a strike rate of 177.77, caught by Isuru Udana after a lofted shot.
On the next delivery, Siddique sent Saurin Thakar back for a golden duck, caught by Gerhard Erasmus, sparking a dramatic collapse. His figures of 1 over, 0 maidens, 9 runs, and 2 wickets, with an economy of 9.00, highlighted his ability to shift momentum. These strikes ensured the Falcons limped to 89/7, with a run rate of 8.90, despite Chirag Gandhi’s fighting 34 not out off 22 balls. Siddique’s composure set the stage for the Tigers’ dominant chase.
TCNI’s Hero of the Day
Josh Brown was named TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his explosive 49 off 24 balls, which powered the Caribbean Tigers to a seven-wicket victory over the Grand Cayman Falcons. Chasing 90, Brown’s aggressive innings, featuring three fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 204.16, dismantled the Falcons’ bowling. He targeted Alistair Ifill’s over for 23 runs, launching massive sixes that exploited the short boundaries at Jimmy Powell Oval.
His 65-run stand with Shubham Ranjane (16 off 12) kept the Tigers’ run rate at 10.80, ensuring they stayed ahead of the game. Although Saurin Thakar dismissed him in the seventh over, caught by Chirag Gandhi, Brown’s fearless batting laid the foundation for JJ Smit (2 not out) and Andrew Tye (6 not out) to finish the chase. Despite early pressure from Thakar’s two wickets, including Dilpreet Bajwa’s 8, Brown’s commanding performance defined the match.
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