Afghanistan produced a clinical performance to hand defending champions West Indies a 56-run thumping on Wednesday in their final warm-up match ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021. After losing their first warm-up match against South Africa, Afghans needed a big win to restore their confidence. And they did it in style by humbling a star-studded Windies side. For the Windies, the warm-ups proved to be a futile exercise. They had also lost to Pakistan, by seven wickets. After posting a big total of 189/9, Mohammad Nabi led from the front with a sensational spell of spin bowling. His figures read: 4-2-2-3. Meaning, he conceded only two runs to take three wickets, and that too in the beginning. Windies never recovered from that blow. Roston Chase, however, played an unbeaten knock of 54 off 58. And he, along with Nicholas Pooran (35 off 26), tried to revive the chase. But Afghan have Naveen-ul-Haq and Raashid Khan too in their bowling attack. Earlier, Afghan batters toyed with the Windies bowlers to set a 190-run target. Hazratullah Zazai (56 off 54) and Mohammad Shahzad (54 off 35) played almost identical knocks to post a 90-run opening stand. Their knocks were followed by cameos from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran. For the defending champions, Obed McCoy claimed two wickets, while Ravi Rampaul, Hayden Walsh and Andre Russell got one each at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Catch highlights and cricket scores of the AFG vs WI match here.
11:14 PM IST: Result
Naveen-ul-Haq with the final over. And he concedes only five. A convincing 56-run win for Afghanistan. WI - 133/5 (20); AFG - 189/5 (20)
11:05 PM IST: 62 In 6
Karim Janat with the penultimate over. Andre Russell hits the second ball for a four. And two more singles. West Indies need 62 runs in 6 balls. WI - 128/4 (19)
10:47 PM IST: Pooran Goes
Karim Janat removes Nicholas Pooran (35 off 26), caught by Mohammad Nabi at long on. Andre Russell is the new man. West Indies need 91 runs in 30 balls. 53 runs and one wicket in the last five overs. WI - 99/4 (15)
10:41 PM IST: Fifty-run Stand
Roston Chase and Nicholas Pooran in a fifty-run stand as the Windies keep the chase alive. Pooran hits Hamid Hassan for a four and a six off the first two balls to welcome the pacer. Roston Chase then hits the fourth for another four. 17 from the over. WI -86/3 (14)
10:21 PM IST: 140 In 60
29 runs and a wicket in the last five, including 11 from Karim Janat's first over. West Indies need 140 runs in 60 balls. WI - 50/3 (10)
10:16 PM IST: Rashid On
Finally, Rashid Khan gets his first over. And seven from it, including a four off the last ball, hit by Roston Chase. WI - 39/3 (9)
10:06 PM IST: 4-2-2-3
Third for Mohammad Nabi. Shimron Hetmyer (2 off 10), caught & bowled. Nabi's figures: 4-2-2-3. Nicholas Pooran joins Roston Chase. WI - 27/3 (7)
9:52 PM IST: Nabi, Again
Well, Mohammad Nabi can do some serious damage to Windies reputation. Evin Lewis, one of the finest T20 batsmen, is walking back. Bowled for 3 off 6. Shimron Hetmyer joins Shimron Hetmyer in the middle. WI - 19/2 (4.1)
9:38 PM IST: Nabi Strikes
What an opening over from Mohammad Nabi. One wicket and four byes. Lendl Simmons, caught by Najibullah off the second ball. Roston Chase, the new man, then blocked the remaining deliveries, almost. But there were four byes off the fifth. Evin Lewis is another opener.
9:22 PM IST: Innings Break
Andre Russell and Obed McCoy pull things back for the West Indies. Just ten from the last two overs. And Afghanistan could manage only 189/5. They were looking at 200+.
9:10 PM IST: Afghans Eye 200
Ravi Rampaul concedes 18 in his third over. Fifty-run stand for Rahmanullah Gurbaz (33 off 25) and Najibullah Zadran (23 off 17) in 28. AFG - 179/2 (18)
8:42 PM IST: Second Wicket
Fifty for Mohammad Shahzad (54 off 35) in 33 balls, then departs. Caught by Akeal Hosein at short third man. Najibullah Zadran joins Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the centre. Wicket for Ravi Rampaul. AFG - 129/2 (13.4)
8:25 PM IST: Drinks
Ten overs remaining, and Afghanistan will eye more than 200. They are 100 for one in the first ten. Mohammad Shahzad is unbeaten on 38 off 25.
8:17 PM IST: First Wicket
Finally, a wicket! Hayden Walsh removes Hazratullah Zazai (56 off 35). Caught by Evin Lewis at deep. Rahmanullah Gurbaz joins Mohammad Shahzad. AFG - 91/1 (9)
8:02 PM IST: Powerplay Over
Akeal Hosein continues. Hazratullah Zazai hits the last ball for a six to spoil the stats. Nine from the over. AFG - 62/0 (6)
7:53 PM IST: Good Start
Akeal Hosein on with his first over. A very good start considering the mayhem. Just two singles. But Afghanistan still going over 10. AFG - 42/0 (4)
7:38 PM IST: Big Over
Oshane Thomas with the first over. Oshane Thomas hits the first ball for a four. Another one, off the fourth. And Mohammad Shahzad finishes with a six, over third man. 16 from it.
7:16 PM IST: Toss
Afghanistan win the toss and will bat first against West Indies.
Squads:
Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad(w), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, Asghar Afghan, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Hamid Hassan, Fareed Ahmad, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Usman Ghani
West Indies: Lendl Simmons, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard(c), Hayden Walsh, Ravi Rampaul, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo
