The West Indies ended their group stage campaign at the 2024 T20 World Cup on a high note, crushing Afghanistan by a massive 104 runs. This dominant victory not only secured their place in the Super Eight stage but also saw them set a new record for the highest total in a men’s T20 World Cup match.
Pooran’s Power Propels Windies to Mammoth Total
Nicholas Pooran was the star of the show for the West Indies, smashing a blistering 98 runs off just 53 balls. His knock was a masterclass in power hitting, featuring eight towering sixes that propelled the Windies to a staggering total of 218 for 5 wickets. Pooran’s innings surpassed Chris Gayle’s record to become the leading six-hitter for the West Indies in T20 Internationals.
Early Fireworks from Charles
Earlier, Johnson Charles provided a solid foundation at the top of the order for the Windies. Though he started cautiously after a string of inconsistent scores, Charles soon found his rhythm and unleashed a flurry of boundaries, setting the tone for the Windies’ batting onslaught.
Spin Twins Briefly Halt Windies Momentum
With Mujeeb Ur Rahman sidelined due to injury, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan was forced to introduce himself into the attack earlier than usual. However, Pooran welcomed him with a couple of boundaries, and the Windies raced to a tournament-high score of 92 for 1 in the powerplay.
However, Rashid and his spin partner Noor Ahmad managed to slow down the scoring rate in the middle overs. They exploited the slight assistance from the pitch, utilizing a combination of leg breaks, googlies, and variations in length to keep the Windies batsmen guessing. This period saw the Windies score only 66 runs and lose two wickets.
Pooran Finishes Strong, Afghanistan Falters
The 17th over saw Pooran awaken from a relative lull, collecting his first four since the powerplay. He then launched a brutal assault on Rashid Khan in the 18th over, taking 24 runs and decisively shifting the momentum back in the Windies’ favor.
Despite his late flourish, Pooran narrowly missed out on a well-deserved century, falling victim to a brilliant throw from Azmatullah Omarzai in the final over. However, his knock had already done the significant damage, leaving Afghanistan with a daunting target to chase.
Afghanistan’s Chase Falters Early
Afghanistan’s batting, heavily reliant on their openers throughout the tournament, faltered early. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell cheaply to powerplay specialist Akeal Hosein, exposing the team’s fragile middle order.
Ibrahim Zadran offered some resistance with a few boundaries, but he was eventually dismissed by the impressive Obed McCoy, who was brought in for the match. McCoy then proceeded to dismantle Afghanistan’s chase further, dismissing both Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi to leave them reeling at 63 for 5 inside ten overs.
Windies Clinch Dominant Victory
Despite some lusty blows from Omarzai, Afghanistan could never recover from their early setbacks. The Windies bowlers, led by McCoy, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, and Andre Russell, maintained a stranglehold on the scoring rate, eventually restricting Afghanistan to a meager 114 runs.
This comprehensive victory not only secured a perfect record for the Windies in the group stage but also served as a strong statement of intent heading into the crucial Super Eight stage of the tournament.