In the T20 World Cup match held in St Lucia, the West Indies secured an emphatic 104-run triumph over Afghanistan, setting the stage for their upcoming Super 8s showdown with England.
Nicholas Pooran led the charge for the co-hosts with a dazzling 98 off 53 balls, propelling the West Indies to an imposing total of 218-5—the highest score in the tournament so far. His innings included a spectacular display of power hitting, smashing eight sixes.
The West Indies began aggressively, racing to 85-1 after just five overs. The fourth over was particularly brutal for Afghanistan, with 36 runs conceded, featuring three Pooran sixes, a no-ball, and five wides. This equalled the record for the most expensive over in men's T20 cricket. Pooran, after dismantling Rashid Khan’s bowling, was run out in the final over while attempting to retain the strike to complete his century.
Afghanistan's response faltered early when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught for a three-ball duck off Akeal Hosein in a wicket maiden over. The Afghan team struggled to build momentum and were ultimately bowled out for 114 in 16.2 overs. Obed McCoy claimed three wickets, while spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie each took two.
This match concluded the group stage of the World Cup, transitioning now to the Super 8s, where eight teams will vie for semi-final spots across two groups. The West Indies will face England on Wednesday (Thursday at 01:30 BST).
West Indies' Record-Breaking Performance
The West Indies' performance was a powerful statement ahead of their clash with England. Supported by a lively home crowd, they set a new record for the highest power play score in a T20 World Cup and reached their highest total in the tournament's history.
Despite some initial fortune—Pooran’s first boundary was an unintended edge over the third man—West Indies capitalised on their early momentum. Fazalhaq Farooqi, leading the tournament's wicket-taker, was hit for 28 runs in his initial two overs, a figure modest compared to the 36 runs conceded by Azmatullah Omarzai in the fourth over. This oversaw a series of boundary shots, including a no-ball hit for four and subsequent wides that went over the wicketkeeper’s head, followed by leg-byes and two sixes.
Afghanistan managed to stem the run flow somewhat after the blistering start. Pooran shared substantial partnerships of 80 runs with Johnson Charles (43) and 64 runs with Rovman Powell. In the closing overs, Pooran accelerated again, particularly punishing Rashid Khan in the 18th over with three leg-side sixes, amassing 24 runs in that over. With three balls remaining, Pooran was run out attempting to complete two runs to keep his chances for a maiden T20 century for the West Indies, despite a diving effort.
The West Indies' excellence extended to their bowling, where their combination of effective spin, pace, and sharp fielding was on full display. Heading into their match against England, they boast an impressive streak of eight consecutive T20 wins.
Post-Match Reactions
Nicholas Pooran reflected on his innings, stating that he had quickly gauged the conditions and felt it was crucial to avoid losing wickets during the middle overs. He believed it was his responsibility to lead the innings, as it felt like his day to shine. He praised the team's consistent performances and described their play as remarkable.
Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan acknowledged the difficulty of recovering from the West Indies' explosive start. He considered the effort to restrict them to 220 as commendable, despite the initial onslaught. Rashid expressed optimism that experiencing such challenges at this stage of the tournament would provide valuable lessons moving forward.