Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Match 21 Full Commentary

On to the next one - It was an evening swamped by rain in Basseterre, unfortunately. But the Caribbean Premier League party rolls on regardless, with one of the biggest clashes of the season lined up next on Tuesday, 1st September. The action shifts to the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, where the defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders take on the only unbeaten side in this season, Guyana Amazon Warriors. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 9 pm GMT (the previous day). But do make sure to join us for the buildup in advance too. Cheers!

Rain wins - There we have it, folks. The plug has been pulled on this Leeward Island derby. THE MATCH IS ABANDONED DUE TO RAIN. Nikhil Uttamchandani informs us the downpour is courtesy of a tropical storm named Dolly, passing through and putting an early end to proceedings. However, nowhere but the Caribbean does a rain delay turn into a full-blown party. Not a single ball was bowled all night, yet somehow the scenes out there look like a carnival in full swing. Both teams walk away sharing a point each. It's a result that pushes the Falcons into pole position with 9 points, while the Patriots stay rooted at the bottom of the table on 3 points, still with just the one win to their name so far.

UPDATE - 1.39 pm GMT - The writing is on the wall at Warner Park! The umpires are out with umbrellas and appear to be heading towards both dressing rooms to communicate their decision. We can also see the handshakes taking place, with Moeen Ali and Jason Holder involved, and that can only mean one thing. It looks like this one is heading towards a washout. Mikyle Louis and a couple of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots players have now joined the crowd, dancing away in the rain without a care in the world. With the cricket washed out for the moment, they are certainly making sure the entertainment does not stop, and this is exactly how Caribbean people roll!

UPDATE - 1.25 am GMT - The crowd is refusing to let the weather dampen the mood. The DJ is doing his best to keep everyone entertained with some catchy tunes and getting the fans involved with a few dance moves, and it seems to be working as the stands remain lively despite the rain. But with the clock ticking and the rain continuing to fall, we are getting closer and closer to a washout.

UPDATE - 1.09 am GMT - Nikhil Uttamchandani steps out to report from the ground, climbing out of a parked Super Sopper to deliver the latest. He informs us that 2.11 am GMT is the cutoff for a 5-over-a-side contest to get underway, leaving barely an hour on the clock from here. But with the rain still swamping through, it's looking increasingly like the day is done and dusted. The ground staff will need a good 20 to 25 minutes to get the field ready once it does stop, which means the rain needs to ease off well before that cutoff, not right on it.

UPDATE - 12.50 am GMT - It's still drizzling out there in Basseterre, but there's plenty of activity in the middle, with the ground staff working hard despite the conditions. Rain has already eaten into a good chunk of time, and with overs getting reduced at a rate of one every nine minutes, we have lost somewhere around 7 to 8 overs by now. And just as we type, it has started to hammer down once again. It's just been that kind of day.

UPDATE - 12.45 am GMT - There's some activity in the middle at last. Three members of the ground staff have walked out towards the covers, though the umbrellas are still up and one of them remains in a raincoat, just in case. The Super Sopper has been rolled out for the second time too, and more ground staff are now streaming in to join the effort.

UPDATE - 12.40 am GMT - By now, the first innings would already have wrapped up had the game started on schedule, but we are still waiting for the rain to relent. Even the DJ has gone silent due to a power/technical issue at the ground. There is a small silver lining though, with the intensity of the rain dropping off once again. Hope and pray is about all anyone can do at this point.

UPDATE - 12.20 am GMT - Well, scratch that previous update, folks. The rain is back, and this time it's another heavy spell. Perhaps the ground staff saw this coming, which would explain why the covers never came off in the first place. Either way, we are back to square one, unfortunately. The ground staff have retreated too, and there's no one left out in the middle right now, except for the covers, of course.

UPDATE - 12.12 am GMT - We have already passed that extra hour of buffer time, and overs have officially started getting trimmed down as a result. So if and when play does get underway, it will be a truncated contest, something Niall O'Brien, in his pitch report, had already flagged as a possibility. That said, the visuals coming through look promising, and there's a genuine chance we could be out on the field before too long, if not immediately. Let's keep our fingers crossed so that the fans don't end up with a washout on Sunday.

UPDATE - 12.07 am GMT - It's quite windy out there, and at one point the cover placed around the bowling mark got blown clean off, before ground staff moved in to put it back in place. It took four or five men to get the job done. So for now, where there's wind, there's clearly a way. Here's hoping that it blows the rain well away from the ground.

UPDATE - 12 am GMT - Well, the rain hasn't completely eased off, but it's reduced to a slight drizzle now. A few players from both camps can be seen having a chat at the sidelines, with the likes of Evin Lewis and Amir Jangoo out there passing the time. Meanwhile, the ground staff continue their hard work near the covers, with the Super Sopper continuously doing the rounds on the covers.

UPDATE - 11.52 pm GMT - There is a slight change in the weather at Warner Park, with the rain easing off and a few members of the groundstaff making their way out to the middle. A super sopper has also been brought out to help clear the excessive water, although the covers remain firmly in place for now.

UPDATE - 11.30 pm GMT - There is still no let-up here, with the rain continuing to pour down and the players watching on from their respective dressing rooms. Even the bravest among those waiting it out has had enough - a spectator who had been sitting on a chair behind the ropes with an umbrella and a raincoat has now retreated for cover as the heavy rain and strong winds continue. For now, everyone is simply hoping the skies finally clear.

Naseem Shah (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots) - On being asked about the experience of playing with his brother, Shah says it's a proud moment for him and the whole family. He recalls how there was once a time his father wouldn't let the brothers play cricket at all, and now finds himself waking up early just to catch them on television. He calls it a proud moment for both father and son, and credits his brother's performances so far to the hard work he's put in. When asked about what he hopes to bring to the Patriots with his own skill set, he admits things haven't gone their way. Still, he says he is trying his best to contribute, and points out that cricket has a funny way of turning around. With half the season gone, he believes there's still time to string together good performances and climb back up the table. When he is asked about what has excited him most about the team's performance, he points to the group's combination, calling it a good one. The results, he admits, haven't gone their way so far, but he remains hopeful that good cricket will follow given the quality of all-rounders and the balance within the squad. Ends by stressing that it's simply a matter of playing well and letting the results take care of themselves.

UPDATE - 11 pm GMT - It is absolutely pelting down now, and the start has officially been delayed. The good news is that, as Nikhil Uttamchandani mentioned on air, there is an hour of buffer time before we begin to lose any overs, so that concern is not on the table just yet. For now, though, it is all about waiting for this heavy spell to pass.

Pre-match thoughts - Antigua & Barbuda Falcons' Alzarri Joseph says his approach has been to keep things simple and not try to do too much, especially with the wickets offering assistance in the games so far. He is also pleased with the strength of their fast-bowling unit, particularly with the number of local quicks in the squad, and is looking forward to seeing how they perform as the tournament progresses. Joseph feels the pacers complement each other well because of their different styles. Mentions that Jayden Seales operates with the new ball, while he himself can also take the new ball when required. Says Shamar Springer brings a different dimension with his cutters, yorkers and variations, while the differences in pace add further variety to the attack. He does not consider his battle with another local quick a rivalry at this stage, but admits it is always enjoyable to see a homegrown bowler generating serious pace and hints that the competitive edge could develop over time.

PITCH REPORT - Niall O'Brien opens by flagging just how extreme the weather has been here over the last 24 hours, with rain and thunderstorms sweeping through. Looking ahead to tonight's fixture, though, he admits the conditions still look a touch ominous, with a 75 percent chance of rain and strong winds in the forecast. Reckons that it could be a rain-curtailed game. He also informs that the square boundaries measure 61 meters and 64 meters respectively. Calls this a genuine six-hitting ground, and points out that this very surface produced a belter of a run fest the other night, with 350 runs and a galore of sixes swamping throughout. Even after 24 hours spent under covers because of the weather, he feels it has held up nicely, if a touch clammy, and points out Wanindu Hasaranga and Saim Ayub found some unusual turn off it a couple of nights back, something he suspects could grip a little more again this evening. Overall, he calls this pitch a beauty built for runs.

UPDATE - 10.41 pm GMT - The weather has taken another turn at Warner Park! The drizzle had eased off briefly, but the rain has now picked up properly, with more covers coming across the square. The wind is also blowing strongly around the ground, so fingers crossed this is only a passing shower and the conditions clear up soon.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (Playing XI) - Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher (WK), Alick Athanaze (In place of Mikyle Louis), Dasun Shanaka, Jason Holder (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Navin Bidaisee (In place of Kevin Wickham), Naseem Shah, Jeremiah Louis (In place of Obed McCoy) , Waqar Salamkheil.

Antigua & Barbuda Falcons (Playing XI) - Evin Lewis (In place of Rahkeem Cornwall), Amir Jangoo (WK), Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Moeen Ali (C), Fabian Allen (In place of Karima Gore), Shamar Springer, Joshua James, Alzarri Joseph, Sufyan Moqim, Jayden Seales.

The captain of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots - Jason Holder feels the they have a good surface to bat on and says they need to make the most of the opportunity after being asked to bat first. He stresses that the disappointment from their previous game is in the past, and the team is fully focused on the contest against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, with the priority on executing well in key moments rather than looking too far ahead in the competition. Holder also acknowledges the loyalty of the home supporters and expects another good turnout, having been encouraged by the crowd at their previous game. Jason hopes the weather stays clear and allows everyone to enjoy the contest. Informs they have made three changes in their playing XI.

The skipper of Antigua & Barbuda Falcons - Moeen Ali, on the decision to bowl first, reasons that the wicket looks set to hold up well and that the weather conditions play into their hands too. When asked how important it is to finish the group stage strongly, he calls every game crucial from here, noting that his side has played well overall but also stumbled with a couple of bad losses along the way, meaning the focus now has to stay sharp and disciplined on doing the basics right. On the depth of bowling options at his disposal, he points out how valuable it is to have variety in the attack, with different surfaces bringing out different needs. He highlights that Springer did not even get a bowl in the last game despite arguably being their best bowler. Says that's the sign of just how balanced and exciting this side has become, giving them the flexibility to go with an extra batter or an extra bowler depending on the situation. On changes to the XI, he informs that Rahkeem Cornwall makes way, with Fabian Allen coming in, while Evin Lewis replaces Karima Gore.

UPDATE - 10.34 pm GMT - The toss is done, but there is a light drizzle on at the moment. The square is covered but it doesn't look that heavy to delay any proceedings.