West Indies beat Afghanistan in the group stage’s last match by 104 runs to gush into the Super Eight phase undefeated in the tournament. Nicholas Pooran’s mesmerizing 98 propelled the West Indies to 218 before Obed McCoy and the spinners starred in bundling Afghanistan to 114 in St. Lucia.
Brief Scores: WI: 218/5 [Pooran: 98, Charles: 43; Naib: 2/14] beat AFG: 114 [Ibrahim: 38, Omarzai: 23; McCoy: 3/14] by 104 runs
Eyeing to extend their dominant run in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first in a dead rubber against West Indies. The ploy of bringing Azmatullah Omarzai for a second over after his successful first inside the powerplay did not go well with the Atalans as he leaked 36 runs against Pooran including a no-ball wide and leg bye fours each. Leading up to a 92-run record-shattering powerplay, Johnson Charles fell seven runs short of a half-century in the eighth over before Afghan spinners pulled the socks, conceding just 35 runs between 11 and 15 overs, and outsmarting a semi-settled Shai Hope. Eventually, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen conceded 21 runs in the next two overs before Pooran slammed 24 runs off Rashid in the 18th over. However, Gulbaid Naib’s brilliant 19th over where he outsmarted Powell paved the way for a Pooran run out for 98, steering the two-time champions to 218/5 in 20 overs.
Unlike their counterparts, Afghanistan lost a wicket in the first over itself, as Akeal Hosein outdid in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz. While Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib played through the powerplay phase, trying to stabilize the stage with a 45 runs second-wicket partnership, the latter fell cheaply after the field restrictions. From the other end, Obed McCoy, who replaced Romario Shepherd in the playing XI, removed the Zadran brothers before castling Mohammad Nabi to wrap up half the Afghan side for 66 runs in ten overs. Soon after, Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat tried to counterpunch the Windies attack before Hosein returned to remove the former, and the latter ended up in a suicidal runout in the 13th over. The tail failed to assist skipper Rashid as a couple of lusty blows were not enough before the spark extinguished for 114 runs.
Coach Sammy effect
– WI didn’t qualify for T20 WC 2022.
– WI didn’t qualify for ODI WC 2023.
But West Indies have qualified for Super 8s in this T20 WC 2024. Massive Credit goes to Coach Sammy ❤️
PC: Mk kingstan pic.twitter.com/Hj7VnIkZvu— Joseph Kohli (@Joseph_Kohli_) June 13, 2024
Lovin it
Daren Sammy Cricket Ground with the light show, then the massive score from West Indies. Saint Lucia to the world! 🇱🇨 🏏 pic.twitter.com/VMznLbi9Z0
— Terry Finisterre (@terryfinisterre) June 18, 2024
Crushing win for West Indies. They will only get more stronger as the tournament progresses.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) June 18, 2024
Enoying it
Just saw Alzarri Joseph smiling in that over. Doesn’t happen very often. Another sign that this West Indies team is on fire & only getting better with each game #T20WorldCup
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 18, 2024
Superb
West Indies!!!! What a performance!! Beat Afghanistan by 104 runs!!!! pic.twitter.com/fhmesKcuWH
— J (@JordizzleJ) June 18, 2024
WEST INDIES DEFEATED AFGHANISTAN BY 104 RUNS. 🏝️ pic.twitter.com/DsV9tHRjzI
— SPORTSBUZZINFO (@Sportsbuzinfo) June 18, 2024
Congrats
Dominance
Dominance from the West Indies tonight 🔥
— Bäd Frëak (@adore_mina) June 18, 2024
France ✅
Boston Celtics ✅
West Indies ✅
All in one day ????
What a day of sports I just had— Fadda (@Donerville) June 18, 2024
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