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Follow UsWest Indies’ powerplay carnage
After being forced to bat first, West Indies put on a show in the powerplay, thanks to the partnership between Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran.
The duo scored 70 runs in 25 balls, thanks to Pooran, who scored 36 off just 13 balls in the first six overs, taking West Indies’ powerplay score to 92/1, their highest powerplay score in T20 World Cup history.
A night to forget for Azmatullah Omarzai
How did West Indies notch up 92 runs in the first six overs?
It was only possible because of Pooran’s assault against Azmatullah Omarzai in the fourth over of the innings, with West Indies taking 36 runs off the over.
6, 4nb, 5wd, 0, 4lb, 4, 6 and 6 read the over. It was just the second instance of 36 runs being scored in a single over at the T20 World Cup.
Pooran smashes ‘em
You want some, come get some. Nicholas Pooran’s knock was truly sensational, with the left-hander's 53-ball 98 being the third-highest individual score for a West Indian batter in the T20 World Cup history.
Pooran peppered the leg-side boundary with five sixes, scoring 49 off just 25 balls. He took on Afghanistan’s ace bowler, Rashid Khan, scoring 37 off 16 deliveries against him at a strike rate of 231.3. Not to forget his 8-ball 26 against Omarzai, in a record knock where he smashed eight sixes.
His knock took West Indies to 218/5, the highest total in this year’s World Cup.
Akeal Hosein damages Afghanistan’s run chase
Chasing 219, Afghanistan needed Rahmanullah Gurbaz to fire. But that’s where Akeal Hosein came in clutch for the hosts, with a wicket maiden in the first over. It was Gurbaz’s first duck in his T20 World Cup career.
Hosein wasn’t done yet, as he returned to inflict further damage on Afghanistan, removing the well-set Azmatullah Omarzai in the 13th over of the innings to finish with figures of 2/21.
Obed McCoy’s sizzling entrance
With an entrance like no other, Obed McCoy lit the stage on fire on his debut game in this year’s campaign. The left-arm pacer, who replaced Romario Shepherd, gave the Windies management a ‘happy headache’ with a stellar spell against Afghanistan.
McCoy struck twice in his first over, removing Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran before bowling a beauty to dismiss Mohammad Nabi. He finished with figures of 3/14 and was thoroughly impressive in his spell in St Lucia.
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