KATHMANDU: The West Indies delivered a powerful statement in the final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup first round, securing a dominant victory over Afghanistan and advancing to the Super Eights unbeaten.
Having already qualified for the Super Eight stage, the West Indies aimed to gain momentum against Afghanistan, another undefeated Group C team, at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
The co-hosts produced an unforgettable performance that left cricket enthusiasts and historians in awe.
After winning the toss, Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan elected to bowl, targeting early breakthroughs on the run-friendly pitch.
However, the West Indies’ explosive start quickly dispelled any hopes Afghanistan had of containing them. Despite the early loss of Brandon King (7 off 6), Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran swiftly took control.
Charles’ three boundaries in the third over set the stage for Pooran’s extraordinary display in the next over.
Pooran smashed 36 runs off Azmatullah Omarzai’s over, including two sixes, two boundaries, and capitalizing on no-balls and wides, marking only the fifth time in Men’s T20I history that an over has yielded 36 runs.
By the end of the Powerplay, the West Indies had amassed 92/1, setting a new record for the highest Powerplay total in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
The partnership between Charles and Pooran propelled the score to 100 by the 7.4 over mark before Charles was dismissed for 43 off 27 balls.
The West Indies reached the drinks break at 113/2, eyeing further batting records in the second half of the innings.
Shai Hope’s quick-fire 25 off 17 balls maintained the run rate, and Pooran’s half-century came off just 31 balls, his first in a T20 World Cup.
Although the run rate dipped slightly in the middle overs, Rovman Powell reignited the innings with a six in the 16th over, taking the West Indies past 150.
Pooran continued his assault, scoring 24 runs off Rashid Khan’s 18th over.
Khan ended his four-over spell with 45 runs conceded and no wickets.
Powell was dismissed for 26 off 15 balls, bringing Andre Russell to the crease in the 19th over.
Russell’s primary task was to support Pooran, who was eyeing a century.
Pooran fell agonizingly short, being run out for 98 off 53 balls after a sensational throw from Omarzai.
The West Indies finished their innings at 218/5, their highest score in T20 World Cups and the largest of the tournament so far.
Records broken during the innings include:
Highest total of the Men’s 2024 T20 World Cup
Highest individual innings of the Men’s 2024 T20 World Cup
Highest Powerplay in Men’s T20 World Cup history
Highest total for the West Indies in Men’s T20 World Cups
Equal most runs conceded in one over in Men’s T20 World Cup history
Second highest team total against Afghanistan in Men’s T20I history
Nicholas Pooran surpassing Chris Gayle for the most sixes by a West Indies player in Men’s T20I history
Facing a daunting target, Afghanistan’s chase began poorly with the dismissal of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0 off 3) in the third ball.
Despite a calm effort from Gulbadin Naib and Ibrahim Zadran, who took Afghanistan to 45/1 at the end of the Powerplay, wickets fell consistently thereafter.
Gutakesh Motie initiated the collapse in the next over, and Afghanistan reached the midpoint of their innings at 66/5.
Karim Janat and Omarzai attempted to revive the innings post-drinks, hitting several sixes, but their efforts were short-lived.
Omarzai was dismissed for 23 off 19 balls in the 13th over, and Afghanistan ultimately folded for 114, suffering their first defeat of the World Cup.
The West Indies’ comprehensive 104-run victory sends them into the next phase of the tournament in formidable form, marking them as serious contenders as the competition progresses.
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