by: TN Media News Pakistan:
The West Indies displayed a dominant performance to thrash Afghanistan in their final T20 World Cup group match at the Dubai International Stadium. The Caribbean side cruised to a comprehensive victory, cementing their place in the knockout stages with a commanding display of both batting and bowling.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the West Indies set a formidable target of 198 runs for Afghanistan. The opening pair, Brandon King and Evin Lewis, laid a solid foundation with a quick-fire partnership. King scored a blistering 78 off 42 balls, including 10 fours and 3 sixes, while Lewis contributed 52 runs from 36 deliveries. Their explosive start was supported by middle-order batsmen Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, who added crucial runs in the latter stages of the innings. Pooran’s unbeaten 38 off 22 balls and Hetmyer’s 25 from 15 balls pushed the total to a daunting 197/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, with only Rashid Khan managing to put up a fight, taking 2 wickets for 33 runs. The rest of the bowling attack was largely ineffective against the West Indies’ aggressive batting.
In response, Afghanistan’s chase never gained momentum. The West Indies’ bowlers delivered a disciplined and lethal performance, dismantling the Afghan batting line-up. Sheldon Cottrell struck early, removing both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai, in quick succession. From there, the Afghan innings went into a freefall, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals.
Only Najibullah Zadran provided some resistance with a fighting 40 off 28 balls. However, his efforts were in vain as Afghanistan were bowled out for a paltry 109 in 15.3 overs. Cottrell finished with impressive figures of 3/21, while Oshane Thomas and Jason Holder each claimed two wickets to ensure a comprehensive win for the West Indies.
Captain Kieron Pollard lauded his team’s all-round performance. “It was a complete team effort today. The way the batsmen set up the game and the bowlers executed the plans was brilliant. We need to carry this momentum into the knockout stages,” Pollard said in the post-match presentation.
Afghanistan’s skipper, Mohammad Nabi, expressed disappointment but remained hopeful for the future. “We didn’t play our best cricket today. Credit to the West Indies for their performance. We have a young team, and this experience will only make us stronger,” Nabi commented.
The emphatic victory means the West Indies advance to the semifinals with confidence, looking to add another T20 World Cup title to their collection. As the tournament progresses, fans eagerly await the high-octane clashes that lie ahead in the knockout rounds.
