Afghanistan Triumphs Over West Indies in T20 Opener
In a thrilling opener of their three-match T20 series, Afghanistan triumphed over the West Indies by a substantial margin of 38 runs on Monday in Dubai. The match saw an outstanding partnership between Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli, who set a new record for the highest third-wicket partnership in T20 history for their nation, amassing 162 runs in a stellar display of batting.
Match Highlights
Zadran scored an impressive 87 not out from 56 deliveries, while Rasooli contributed 84 off 59 balls, propelling Afghanistan to a strong total of 181 runs for the loss of three wickets. The West Indies struggled to respond, ending their innings at 143 runs with only four batters reaching double figures. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman were key figures in restricting the West Indies, both claiming two wickets each for minimal runs in their spells. Rashid took 2 for 19, and Mujeeb finished with figures of 2 for 29.
Captain Rashid Khan expressed confidence in the team’s performance leading up to the upcoming T20 World Cup, stating, “As long as we are bringing our best skills to the game, it doesn’t matter whether we bat first or second. As a team, we are fit and hopefully, we will have a good World Cup.”
Key Moments in the Match
The West Indies faced an early setback when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was run out off the very first ball. Further, captain Brandon King made headlines with a remarkable one-handed catch to dismiss Sediqullah Atal, resulting in Afghanistan stumbling to a mere 19 runs for 2 wickets in the first three overs. However, the partnership of Zadran and Rasooli revitalized their innings, combining experience and aggression against the bowling which at times lacked precision.
West Indies’ bowlers struggled, with Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph conceding a total of 91 runs in their combined eight overs. Despite a few good spells, including economical bowling from Gudakesh Motie who ended with 0-18 from four overs, the fielding was marred by dropped catches, costing them crucial runs. Zadran and Rasooli accelerated in the final overs, scoring 70 runs in the last six deliveries of the innings.
West Indies’ Response
In their reply, the West Indies faced immediate ruins, finding themselves at 42 runs for the loss of three wickets by the end of the power play. Mujeeb struck first, sending King back to the pavilion, while Rashid Khan continued to apply pressure, claiming two wickets in consecutive overs. The hosts yet again showcased their spin dominance, particularly with the impactful performance from Ziaur Rahman, who took 3 wickets for 36 runs.
After the match, West Indies captain Brandon King reflected on his team’s shortcomings, noting, “We are disappointed to lose the game. We showed glimpses of good cricket, but it wasn’t good enough. Afghanistan has quite a few formidable spinners, and we’ll need to regroup and assess before the next match.”
Upcoming Matches
The second and third T20 matches are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday respectively, as both teams prepare for the World Cup event that will see teams battling for supremacy on the international stage, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next month.
