In a dominant display, West Indies overwhelmed Afghanistan, winning by 104 runs in the last group match of the T20 World Cup 2024. This victory secured West Indies' perfect record in the group stage, with both teams already qualified for the Super Eight.
Edgy Charles Sets the Tone
At the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Johnson Charles, who has a stand named after him, played a crucial role. Despite a rocky start to the tournament with two ducks and a 44, Charles began his innings tentatively but soon found his rhythm. He began with a series of fours, taking advantage of edges and gaps in the field. Facing Naveen-ul-Haq, Charles struggled with a change of pace and ultimately fell to a well-placed delivery, but not before setting a solid foundation for the team.
Powerful Pooran Raises Decibels
Nicholas Pooran was the star of the match, setting an aggressive tone early on. He faced Azmatullah Omarzai in a devastating fourth over that saw West Indies plunder 36 runs, a feat only achieved once before in T20 World Cup history. Pooran's explosive 98 off just 53 balls included eight sixes, helping West Indies to their highest total in men's T20 World Cups with 218 for 5.
Afghanistan's key spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was injured, forcing Rashid Khan to step up early. However, West Indies ended the powerplay with a record 92 for 1, largely due to Pooran's onslaught. Although the Afghan spinners, Rashid and Noor Ahmad, managed to stem the flow of runs in the middle overs, Pooran's late-game fireworks ensured a formidable total.
Afghanistan No Match in the Chase
Afghanistan's chase began poorly with Rahmanullah Gurbaz falling early to Akeal Hosein. The middle order, which had been struggling throughout the tournament, could not withstand the pressure of a steep target. Ibrahim Zadran showed some resistance, hitting a few boundaries off Alzarri Joseph and Hosein, but his effort was cut short by Obed McCoy, who was playing his first match of the tournament. McCoy's introduction proved decisive as he took three key wickets, including Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi, reducing Afghanistan to 63 for 5 within ten overs.
Azmatullah Omarzai managed some powerful hits, but the combined efforts of Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, and Andre Russell ensured that Afghanistan never gained momentum. They were eventually bowled out for 114, handing West Indies their second-largest victory margin in T20 World Cup history.
West Indies' comprehensive victory highlighted their batting prowess, led by Nicholas Pooran's explosive innings. The win solidified their dominant position heading into the Super Eight stage, setting a high bar for their opponents. For Afghanistan, despite the loss, their qualification for the Super Eight remains a significant achievement, with hopes to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
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