West Indies’ wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran missed his century by just two runs but helped his side post a daunting total of 218/5 which turned out to be too much for Afghanistan. In the last group stage clash of T20 World Cup 2024, co-hosts West Indies beat Afghanistan by a massive margin of 104 runs to continue their unbeaten run. This is West Indies’ second-biggest win at the marquee event. The highlight of the match was when Pooran went ballistic and Azmatullah Omarzai conceded 36 runs in an over.
36-run over in record-breaking powerplay
Earlier, Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Brandon King started the innings with a boundary against Fazalhaq Farooqi. In the second over, King got knocked over by a fuller delivery from Omarzai. In the fourth over, Azmatullah gave 10 extras and was hit for three sixes and two fours by Pooran in the 36-run over. This is the joint-most run in an over in T20 World Cups. Johnson Charles and Pooran marvellous show helped West Indies score 92/1 in six overs, the highest powerplay score in T20 World Cups. The partnership was broken by Naveen-ul-Haq in the eighth over. Charles departed for a 27-ball 43 in an attempt to clear the fence. Boundaries dried up and West Indies had 113/2 on the board at the halfway stage.
Pooran misses ton
Shai Hope broke the shackles with a couple of sixes off Mohammad Nabi. Gulbadin Naib dismissed Hope off the first ball he bowled. He scored 25 runs from 17 balls. Pooran got to his fifty from 31 balls in the 14th over. Rovman Powell hit a few boundaries in the slog overs. Pooran went ballistic again in the 18th over. He hit Rashid for three sixes and a four. In the penultimate over, Powell hit a six before falling to Naib for a 15-ball 26. In the last over bowled by Naveen, Pooran hit a couple of sixes. He got run out off the fourth ball and missed his century. His 53-ball 98 featured six fours and eight sixes. West Indies posted 218/5, their highest score in T20 World Cups.
No fight in run chase
Afghanistan's run chase got off to a poor start. Rahmanullah Gurbaz failed to clear the 30-yard circle and lost his wicket to Akeal Hosein. Ibrahim Zadran and Naib could not get Afghanistan off to a flyer. The first six of the innings came in the sixth over. Afghanistan were 45/1 after powerplay overs. In the seventh over, Gudakesh Motie trapped Naib in front of the stumps. Obed McCoy got hit for two boundaries before he dismissed Ibrahim and Najibullah Zadran. The opener scored 38 runs from 28 balls. In his next over, the left-arm pacer knocked over Nabi. Afghanistan were 66/5 at the halfway stage.
Motie was hit for one six each by Omarzai and Karim jant in the 11th over. Hosein came back into the attack and dismissed Omarzai for a 19-ball 23. In the same over, Janat was run out. Motie in his last over got the better of Noor Ahmad as he tried to clear the boundaries. Alzarri Joseph troubled Naveen with the short ball to outsmart Naveen. In the 17th over, Rashid hit a six before falling to Andre Russell. Afghanistan were bowled out for 114 and lost the match by 104 runs.
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