The West Indies ended the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup with a decisive 104-run triumph over Afghanistan, securing their fourth consecutive win and propelling them into the Super 8s with significant momentum. Their comprehensive performance featured a record-setting Power play and a brilliant innings from Nicholas Pooran, whose 93 off 58 balls powered the West Indies to a formidable total.
Where the Match Was Won
West Indies set the tone early, outscoring Afghanistan by more than double during the Power play. Although Afghanistan managed a slightly higher run count in the middle overs, their collapse in the wickets column proved fatal.
West Indies Innings
Powerplay Blitz
Score - 92/1 [Run Rate: 15.34, 4s/6s: 13/3]
West Indies launched their innings aggressively, with nearly half of the Power play deliveries resulting in boundaries. Brandon King kick-started the assault by flicking the first ball from Fazalhaq Farooqi for four. Despite losing King early to Azmatullah Omarzai, Nicholas Pooran took charge, especially in a devastating 36-run over from Omarzai that included three sixes, three fours, five wides, and a no-ball reprieve. This over alone pushed West Indies well past 50 by the fourth over. Pooran and Johnson Charles continued to exploit the favourable batting conditions, with only Naveen-ul-Haq managing to slow the run rate slightly in his tight sixth over. The hosts concluded with the highest Power play score in T20 World Cup history, breaking the Netherlands' previous record of 91/1 against Ireland in 2014.
Middle Overs: Spin Slows Down the Scoring
Score - 56/2 [Run Rate: 6.23, 4s/6s: 1/2]
Naveen-ul-Haq brought Afghanistan some relief by dismissing Charles in the eighth over with a clever slower ball. Following this, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed managed to curb the scoring, conceding only 21 runs in the next four overs. However, Shai Hope momentarily disrupted their momentum by hitting two sixes off Mohammad Nabi, forcing a quick bowling change. Gulbadin Naib’s introduction paid off immediately as he deceived Hope into a mistimed slog, caught by Najibullah Zadran at deep midwicket.
Death Overs: Pooran Misses Century
Score - 70/2 [Run Rate: 14.00, 4s/6s: 3/7]
Pooran, having been kept off the strike in the middle overs, reignited the West Indies' innings in the death overs. He hammered Rashid Khan for three sixes and a four in the 18th over, propelling West Indies past 200. Attempting to reach a hundred, Pooran launched consecutive sixes off Naveen in the final over before being run out by a direct hit from Azmatullah Omarzai while diving for a second run. He fell just two runs short of his century, ending with a spectacular 98 off 53 balls. The West Indies concluded their innings at 218/5.
Afghanistan’s Response
Power play Struggles
Score - 45/1 [Run Rate: 7.50, 4s/6s: 6/1]
Chasing a daunting target, Afghanistan suffered an early blow as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught off Akeal Hosein's first over. Ibrahim Zadran briefly revived the innings with aggressive shots, including two boundaries off Hosein and a six against Alzarri Joseph. Zadran contributed most of the Power play runs, hitting five of Afghanistan's six boundaries.
Middle Overs Collapse
Score - 57/7 [Run Rate: 6.33, 4s/6s: 4/2]
Making his World Cup debut, Obed McCoy dismantled Afghanistan’s batting in the middle overs. Replacing Romario Shepherd, McCoy claimed three vital wickets, starting with a catch by Johnson Charles off a flicked shot from Zadran. Najibullah Zadran fell trying to clear deep point, and McCoy bowled Mohammad Nabi to leave Afghanistan reeling at 58/5 by the halfway mark. Despite Karim Janat’s brief counterattack, hitting Gudakesh Motie for two sixes, the collapse continued as Afghanistan lost two more wickets in quick succession, including a run-out and a catch off a leading edge.
Death Overs: Quick Finish for West Indies
Score - 12/2 [Run Rate: 9.00, 4s/6s: 1/1]
West Indies wrapped up the match swiftly, needing just eight balls to finish the job. Alzarri Joseph’s bouncer proved too good for Naveen, and Andre Russell secured the final wicket as Rashid Khan was caught at long-off. Afghanistan was bowled out for 114 in 16.2 overs.
Match Summary
West Indies 218/5 (Nicholas Pooran 98, Johnson Charles 43; Gulbadin Naib 2-14) defeated Afghanistan 114 in 16.2 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 38; Obed McCoy 3-14, Akeal Hosein 2-21, Gudakesh Motie 2-28) by 104 runs.
Upcoming Fixtures
Afghanistan will travel to Barbados for their first Super 8 match against India on June 20. Meanwhile, West Indies remain in St. Lucia to face England in their Super 8 fixture on June 19.