Windies crumble, Afghanistan seal series win

West Indies’ T20 World Cup preparations suffered another setback as Afghanistan sealed a series-deciding 39-run win in the second T20 International in Dubai. Chasing 190, the Windies were bowled out for 150 with seven balls remaining.

Partnering captain Brandon King at the top of the order, Alick Athanaze was run out for 8, while Evin Lewis added 13 and Johnson Charles was out for a first ball duck, as West Indies slumped to 38 for 3 in the 8th over.

King and Shimron Hetmyer then added 68 runs in a fourth wicket partnership, before Hetmyer departed for 46 off 17 deliveries including one four and six sixes. King was  the next man out for a top score of 50 from 41 deliveries and with his departure went any real chance of victory. He was one of four victims for Mujeeb Ur Rahman, with West Indies reeling at 122 for 5 in the 16th over at that stage.

Khary Pierre’s 11 was the only other double digit score, as Azmatullah Omarzai snuffed out any chance of a West Indies resurgence with two wickets.

He grabbed 2 for 20, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 for 28 and Player of the Match Rahman 4 for 21, as Afghanistan wrapped up the series win with a game to spare.

Earlier after being sent into bat by West Indies at the Dubai International Stadium, Afghanistan posted a challenging 189 for 4.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught off the bowling of Khary Pierre for 1 with the score on 9, before fellow opener Ibrahim Zadran was bowled  by Matthew Forde for 22 off 17 balls.

That brought the pair of Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli together and an excellent partnership saw them add 115 for the third wicket, before Atal was caught off the bowling of Forde for 53, in the 17th over. His innings spanned 42 deliveries and featured two fours and three sixes.

Ramon Simmonds then removed Rasooli in the next over for a top score of 68, with Afghanistan at that stage moving on to 155 for 4. His quick fire innings featured five fours and three sixes in just 39 deliveries and was his second half century of the series.

A quick Azmatullah Omarzai cameo yielded an unbeaten 26 from 13 deliveries, while Mohammad Nabi was left unbeaten on 7.

For West Indies Matthew Forde impressed with figures of 2 for 25, while Shamar Joseph took 1 for 35 and Ramon Simmonds 1 for 39.