Pacer Shamar Springer took a hat trick as WI defeated Afghanistan

West Indies signed off on their three-match T20 international series against Afghanistan with a 15-run victory in Dubai. Afghanistan secured a 2-1 series win in what was West Indies’ penultimate dress rehearsal ahead of next month’s ICC T20 World Cup.

 

Ahead of the start of play, West Indies made three changes to their team from yesterday’s game. Alick Athanaze, Shamar Joseph and Evin Lewis were replaced by Keacy Carty, Shamar Springer and Justin Greaves. Lewis missed out due to a neck injury sustained in the previous game.

 

After being sent into bat, West Indies were restricted to 151 for seven as captain Brandon King top scored at the top of the order with 47, but West Indies batting woes continued, with the next best score being 27 from Matthew Forde.

 

King stroked 47 from 35 deliveries including two fours and three sixes, while Forde’s 27 runs came from 11 balls and featured two fours and two sixes. The next best scores were 17 from opener Johnson Charles and 16 not out from Springer.

 

For Afghanistan, Ziaur Rahman took two for 45, Rashid Khan two for 13 and Abdollah Ahmadzai two for 30.

 

In their turn at the wicket Afghanistan got off to a strong start as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran added 72 for the first wicket. Zadran was the first to be dismissed, caught by Springer off the bowling of Forde for 28, while Gurbaz went on to make 71 from 58 deliveries before being dismissed by Springer in the penultimate over 

 

No other batsman got into double figures, however, as Afghanistan, from a comfortable position at 94 for one in the 14th over, were eventually restricted to 136 for eight.

 

With his team already scenting victory, Springer sealed the match for West Indies in the penultimate over as he took a wicket with each of his first three balls.

Having anchored the innings, Gurbaz was the first man to be dismissed, followed by Rashid Khan and Shahidullah for ducks, with the latter wicket sparking a joyous celebration from the pacer and his teammates.

 

Springer finished with figures of four for 20, while Forde took one for 28, Khary Pierre one for 29 and Ramon Simmonds one for 26.

 

Afghanistan middle order batsman Darwish Rasooli was named player of the series after making 156 runs.

 

Speaking after the match Springer was elated with his performance.

 

“Feels great being the third person to have taken a hat-trick for West Indies. I was just patient, waiting on my turn and giving my best when I got out there. The goal was just to avoid dots while batting. While bowling, I was trying to make the batters hit to the big side.”

 

Captain Brandon King was pleased with his side’s bowling performance.

 

“All the bowlers bowled today and made it hard for Afghanistan’s batters. We’re coming up with pretty good plans from a bowling point of view. “

 

West Indies will next be in action from January 26 for a three match T20 series against hosts South Africa.