CPL 2026's playoff phase continues with Qualifier 1 between table-topping Guyana Amazon Warriors and second-placed Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, a day after Barbados Tridents eliminated Jamaica Kingsmen in the Eliminator. The winner advances directly to the final on September 20, while the loser gets a second chance in Qualifier 2 against Barbados.
Both teams arrive with mixed recent form. Guyana lost their last outing to Barbados Tridents, bowled out for just 99, while Antigua and Barbuda beat Guyana in the match before that, posting 182 for 5 in a 65-run win — meaning the sides have split their two most recent meetings heading into a knockout decider.
Quinton de Kock has been Guyana's leading run-scorer this campaign with 321 runs, backed by leg-spinner Imran Tahir's 14 wickets. Antigua and Barbuda counter with Hasan Nawaz as their top run-getter on 173 and Alzarri Joseph matching Tahir's tally of 14 wickets, giving both sides a genuine strike bowler capable of deciding a tight contest.
Finishing first and second in the regular season has earned both sides the more favourable route through the knockouts — a single win tonight sends either team straight to Kensington Oval for the final, skipping the additional match Barbados must now win twice to reach the same point.
Guyana's table-topping finish and stronger overall batting depth through de Kock make them the shade favourites, but their loss to Barbados in the final round of the regular season is a reminder they are not unbeatable heading into the knockouts. With both sides possessing a genuine matchwinner in Tahir and Joseph respectively, this looks like the kind of contest that could turn on a single spell or innings rather than a clear form gap between the teams.
Live scores from the CPL 2026 playoffs are tracked on SportGod's live matches page, with AI-powered match predictions published ahead of each knockout fixture and fantasy contests open in SportGod's free games.
Season statistics, recent results and the playoff format are verified against same-day CPL reporting, current as of September 17, 2026.
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